VALPARAISO, Chile — A 72nd-minute goal by veteran striker Claudio Pizarro gave Peru a 1-0 victory over 10-man Venezuela Thursday, leaving the four teams of Group C in the Copa America exactly even going into the last games of the round-robin stage. The Bayern Munich forward scored on a left-footed shot that was tipped by Venezuela goalkeeper Alain Baroja but still went in off the underside of the crossbar. “It was an important goal to be able to think about advancing,” Pizarro said. “That's why I'm excited. Besides, scoring a goal for the national team is important.” Venezuela, which upset Colombia in its opening match, was in command until defender Fernando Amorebieta was sent off on a straight red card in the 29th for stomping on the leg of Peru's Paolo Guerrero. All four teams in Group C — Brazil, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia — are level on points and goal difference. On Sunday in the final Group C matches, Colombia plays Peru and Brazil faces Venezuela. Venezuela controlled the early play as Peru had trouble getting out of its own end. Venezuela's Salomon Rondon was through on goal in the 7th but shot directly at goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Teammate Alejandro Guerra also had early chances. The sending off of Amorebieta by referee Raul Orosco changed the complexion. There is no doubt Amorebieta stomped on Guerrero, but it was not clear it was intentional. That turned the heat up and changed the match, though Peru mounted little sustained attack in the first half despite the man advantage. Peru's attack threatened early in the second half with Pizarro and Guerrero looping early headers over the crossbar. After Pizarro scored, Peru kept more possession and was successfully running time off the clock as Venezuela never really threatened. Brazil eyes U-20 Cup Brazil will carry a significant edge in experience and a remarkable record of defensive impregnability into Saturday's final against Serbia at the Under-20 World Cup. Five-time champion Brazil will be playing in its ninth final, trying to match Argentina's record of six World Cup titles, while Serbia is first-time finalist as an independent country, although the broader nation of Yugoslavia made it in 1987. Serbia will be up against the best defense at the tournament; Brazil has gone 502 minutes — more than 8-1/2 hours — since it last conceded a goal. But Serbia has been similarly sound, topping its group and conceding only four goals in five games en route to the final. Coach Veljko Paunovic saluted Brazil's formidable record at these tournaments but said “it would be wonderful to make history.” More than 300,000 tickets were sold to the tournament's 52 matches and all 25,000 tickets to the final at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium have been sold out for some time. — Agencies
