Argentina beat Peru 2-1

Argentina's Javier Saviola (C) is tripped by goalie Oscar Ibanez during their friendly match June 30. - AFP

New Jersey - Javier Saviola scored with a header in the 72nd minute Wednesday, giving Argentina a 2-1 victory over Peru to end a three-game winless streak less than a week before the start of the Copa America.

Saviola's header came off a free kick by Mauro Rosales, flicked on by Roberto Ayala to the back post, where the Barcelona striker ran onto the ball and directed it in from inside the 6-yard box.

The loss was the second match without a victory for Peru, which hosts the South American nations championship starting next Tuesday in Lima.

Saviola's goal came after the two sides exchanged penalty kicks in the first half.

Kily Gonzalez gave Argentina the lead in the 25th minute, converting his chance after Peruvian defender Santiago Acasiete was called for tripping Rosales. Acasiete blocked Rosales' initial shot, but their legs tangled as they fell, and when Rosales tried to get back up American referee Kevin Stott ruled Acasiete tripped him.

"This was a preparation game, it does not reflect the reality of the team," said Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, who walked out of a post-match press conference on Sunday following a 2-0 loss to Colombia in Miami. "We needed these back-to-back games to find the rhythm that we need."

Peru equalised 11 minutes later when Solano converted a penalty. Argentine goalkeeper Pablo Cavellero clipped Andres Mendoza at the top of the penalty area after Julio Garcia's ball out of the back split Ayala and Facundo Quiroga and sent Mendoza in on goal.

A slightly larger number of Argentine blue shirts could be seen in the crowd of 41,013 at Giants Stadium, which also hosted a Major League Soccer game between the Colorado Rapids and MetroStars.

Colorado won the first game 3-2.

"We came out just to prepare," said Peru's Brazilian coach Paulo Autuori, who added the team had concentrated on its physical training the past week because many players had been on holiday.

 -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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