After a promising start to the South American Olympic qualifiers, where they beat Chile 1-0 with a goal from Franchesco Flores, the Peruvian team suffered their first setback on the second day of competition with a 0-2 defeat against Argentina.
The game was not easy for the team led by José Guillermo del Solar, as the Gauchos took center stage from the first minute and went in search of the goal, while the Blanquirroja organized themselves in the background to stop the opponent's attack at different times fend off game. For the first time.
The referees' decisions also played an important role in ensuring that the first half remained goalless. In the 32nd minute, Santiago Castro scored for Argentina; However, despite permission, the linesman took the Vélez Sarsfield striker's forward position.
YOU CAN SEE: Painful fall! Peru lost 2-0 to Argentina to remain with 3 points in the pre-Olympic U-23 games
In the second half, the Albiceleste surprised the Peruvian goal in the 45th minute with a shot from Pablo Solari that was intercepted by Diego Romero.
The team led by Javier Mascherano continued to press and were rewarded in the 53rd minute with a penalty in Argentina's favor for a foul by Álvaro Rojas on Valentín Barco. Thiago Almada was responsible for the successful decision-making from the 12th step and opened the scoring.
After the Gauchos' goal, Chemo made three simultaneous changes in hopes of reversing the score; But in the 87th minute, Luciano Gondou came into play and extended Argentina's lead.
YOU CAN SEE: Herediano returns to the path of victory: it defeated Saprissa 2-1 in the Promerica League
Despite the Blanquirroja's efforts to salvage a draw against the Albiceleste, the Peru U23 team left the Misael Delgado Stadium empty-handed.
With this result, Peru is in third place in Group B with 3 points, while Argentina is in first place with 4 points. So far, the national team has been excluded from qualifying for the final phase.
The next day of the South American Pre-Olympics, this Saturday, January 27, the Blanquirroja will face Paraguay, which has just won 4-3 against Uruguay. The Albiceleste, on the other hand, needs to rest.
YOU CAN SEE: Jairo Concha revealed what he was told at Universitario when he left Alianza Lima
It is worth remembering that the top two places in each group will qualify for the final stage, in which only the top two teams will gain the long-awaited entry to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Peruvian team is not letting up in the pre-Olympics
Despite the tough defeat against the Argentine team on the second day of the South American Pre-Olympics, La Blanquirroja does not give up in their desire to advance to the final stages. Emilio Saba stated that the national team will fight for the place in Paris 2024 until the last deadline.
“We will fight until the end. We knew Argentina were a difficult opponent, but this is just the beginning. There are two finals left and we will risk our lives. “We want to get the three points with Paraguay,” explained the Peruvian full-back after the end of the game.