SAO PAULO: Yerry Mina’s own goal in the second half saw Colombia crash to a 2-1 defeat by Peru, who kept alive their chances of advancing to the knockout stage of Copa America on Sunday.

Sergio Pena opened the scoring for the Peruvians in the 17th minute. Miguel Borja equalised from the spot in the 53rd but an own goal 11 minutes later by defender Mina decided an absorbing clash at the Olimpico stadium in Goiania.

The result lifts Peru into third place in the five-team Group ‘B’ with three points from two games, one behind Colombia who have played a game more. Leaders Brazil have a maximum six points, while Venezuela, who drew 2-2 with Ecuador earlier on Sunday, have two points from three games. Ecuador have one from two games. The top four teams will qualify for the quarter-finals.

The next matches in the group will be played on Wednesday. Defending champions Brazil will play against Colombia and Peru will face Ecuador.

“This gives us a lot of hope in what is to come at this Copa America,” Peru defender Renato Tapia said. “We are in a good position, but we have to keep looking to go farther.”

Peru, who reached the final of the last Copa America but had won just two of their 12 games since, got off to a good start when Pena hammered home a Yoshimar Yotun shot that had come back off the post.

The goal ended Colombia’s run of seven Copa America games without conceding but they grabbed a deserved equaliser eight minutes into the second half when Borja was brought down in the box as he tried to go round keeper Pedro Gallese.

The referee pointed to the spot and Borja coolly sent the keeper the wrong way.

Colombia had not lost any of their last 10 matches against Peru but were undone by an own goal from Everton defender Mina.

A corner kick whipped in from the right hit him on the chest and bounced over the line. Goalkeeper David Ospina clawed the ball away but the referee ruled the goal valid.

Earlier, Ronald Hernandez scored an injury time equaliser to earn minnows Venezuela a share of the spoils in against Ecuador in Rio de Janeiro.

Ecuador twice took the lead through Ayrton Preciado and Gonzalo Plata either side of a powerful headed goal from Venezuela’s Edson Castillo.

It was a remarkable achievement for a team still missing 12 players due to testing positive for Covid-19 or injury.

Ecuador had not lost to Venezuela for six games dating back to 2011 and controlled the first half before going ahead six minutes before half-time when Preciado scrambled a goal inside a packed six-yard box.

Castillo bulleted home a header after 51 minutes to equalise on his first international start for Venezuela only for Ecuadorian substitute Plata to race the length of the field and give his side a 2-1 lead with 19 minutes remaining.

Just when it looked like Ecuador would escape with all three points Hernandez got on the end of a 40-meter pass into the box to loop a header past the stranded keeper.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2021