Peru earn playoff spot as Colombia fall short

Lima: Gianluca Lapadula and Yoshimar Yotun scored first-half goals as Peru secured a FIFA 2022 World Cup playoff berth with a 2-0 home win over Paraguay here. Lapadula opened the scoring in the fifth minute on Tuesday night by prodding a first-time effort past goalkeeper Antony Silva following Christian Cueva's long-range pass.

Yotun doubled the lead just before halftime with a superb reflex volley after Fabian Balbuena failed to make clean contact with a headed clearance.

The result left Peru fifth in the 10-team South American zone with 24 points from 18 matches. Ricardo Gareca's men will now meet either the United Arab Emirates or Australia in an intercontinental playoff, to be played over one leg in June.

In a dramatic last day of qualifiers, Colombia secured a 1-0 away win over Venezuela but fell one point short of a playoff spot. James Rodriguez put the visitors ahead with a penalty on the stroke of halftime but it was not enough for the Cafeteros, who will miss football's showpiece tournament for the first time since 2010.

Leaders Brazil completed their qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win over Bolivia in La Paz. Everton striker Richarlison scored twice while Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes were also on target for the hosts.

Also read: Canada qualify for FIFA World Cup for first time in 36 years

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