Peru secures first victory, sinking Uruguay in turbulent times.
In a match marked by struggle and drama until the final minutes, Peru defeated Uruguay 1-0 yesterday in Lima during the 9th round of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The decisive goal came in the 42nd minute of the second half, with Miguel Araújo heading in after a cross from Piero Quispe, securing Peru’s first victory in the competition and lifting the team from the bottom of the standings. Find the top football results at ai live scores.
The game was tense and fiercely contested, with Uruguay, despite coming off a better phase in the qualifiers, showing disorganization and apathy throughout the 90 minutes. Despite having more possession, La Celeste struggled to break through Peru’s defense, which adeptly capitalized on the spaces left by the visitors.
On the Uruguayan side, internal strife seems to have affected the team. Following a week filled with rumors of disagreements between coach Marcelo Bielsa and parts of the squad, Uruguay was unable to assert itself on the field. At the end of the match, Bielsa acknowledged that, despite the loss, he did not see flaws in his players’ commitment, but admitted that recent tension may have influenced the outcome.
With this victory, Peru climbed to second-to-last place, now with six points, and is preparing to face Brazil in the next round in Brasília. Uruguay, currently in third place, returns to Montevideo for a crucial clash against Ecuador, where it will seek to turn around its poor form and regain the confidence of its fans.
The result marks a significant relief for Peru, which has been struggling in the qualifiers, but with this first victory, it can now begin to dream of a potential recovery toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Get the edge with BBscore football.
