Host fights back

Peru scores twice in second half, draws Bolivia 2-2 in Copa America

Peru's Claudio Pizarro scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute. AP

LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Claudio Pizarro and Roberto Palacios scored second-half goals as Peru came back from two goals down to draw Bolivia 2-2 in the Copa America on Tuesday.

Pizzaro scored on a penalty kick in the 67th minute, and Palacios equalized five minutes from time to escape a potentially embarrassing Group A loss in their tournament opener at sold-out Nacional Stadium.

The host nation breathed a collective sigh of relief, after Bolivian goals by Joaquin Botero and Lorgio Alvarez threatened to derail Peru's hopes of riding home ground advantage to its first title since 1975.

"The result should have been different. We played well enough to win but we lost too many chances at goal," Peru coach Paulo Autuori said.

Colombia defeated Venezuela 1-0 earlier to finish atop the standings in Group A.

Bolivia, at the bottom of World Cup qualifying after conceding 16 goals in seven matches, was overjoyed with the draw, and rueful of missing an upset victory.

"We had the virtue of scoring two excellent goals but we didn't have enough ability to defend with a lead," Bolivia coach Ramiro Blacut said. "The penalty gave Peru the chance to tie and without that unfortunate play the result would have been different.

"Although we're missing five important players, the youngsters showed they're improving and that will help us in the qualifiers."

Peru came out on attack, and Pizarro, Jefferson Farfan and Flavio Maestri spearheaded an offense which struggled to finish off moves.

Juan Jayo thought he gave Peru the lead in the 20th minute, running up to unleash a low drive from just inside the box, but it nicked the outside of a post.

Six minutes later, Nolberto Solano beat a defender and fed Pizarro, whose close-range shot was saved by Bolivia goalkeeper Leonardo Fernandez.

But Bolivia's Botero silenced the 45,000-strong crowd in the 35th with a blast that shook the back of the net.

In the second half, Peru created a slew of good goal opportunities. But Bolivia went up 2-0 when Peru 'keeper Oscar Ibanez came out of his goal and failed to slow a sprinting Alvarez, who shot into the empty net.

Peru went back on the offensive, buoyed by crowd chants of "Pe-ru! Pe-ru!" and "Si, Se Puede!" -- Spanish for "It can be done!"

After scoring on a penalty in the 67th, Pizzaro kissed his finger and waved to the crowd, and grabbed the ball and ran to place it on the center spot so the game could quickly resume.

An onslaught of Peruvian attempts on goal in the final minutes was finally successful when Palacios found the net, and consoled his team and expectant nation.

On Friday, Peru plays Venezuela and Bolivia meets Colombia.

Summary

Peru 2 Bolivia 2 - result. Copa America first round Group A.

Scorers:

Peru - Claudio Pizarro 68 pen, Roberto Palacios 86

Bolivia - Joaquin Botero 35, Lorgio Alvarez 56

Halftime: 0-1; Attendance: 45,000

Teams:

Peru: 1-Oscar Ibanez; 4-Jorge Soto, 2-Santiago Acasiete, 3-Miguel Rebosio, 6-Walter Vilchez; 7-Nolberto Solano (10-Roberto Palacios, 61), 8-Juan Jayo, 20-Carlos Zegarra (11-Aldo Olcese, 77), 9-Flavio Maestri (16-Andres Mendoza, 61), 14-Claudio Pizarro, 17-Jefferson Farfan

Bolivia: 21-Leonardo Fernandez; 3-Sergio Jauregui, 5-Ronald Arana, 16-Ronald Raldes, 4-Lorgio Alvarez; 15-Limbert Pizarro (17-Juan Carlos Arce, 84), 8-Ruben Tufino, 7-Luis Cristaldo, 10-Limberg Gutierrez (19-Gonzalo Galindo, 63); 9-Miguel Mercado, 20-Joaquin Botero

Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina)

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.