Peru beats New Zealand to claim final spot in 2018 World Cup

LIMA, Peru (AP) — As Peru's president promised, the South American country will have its soccer-dedicated holiday on Thursday.

Peru beat New Zealand 2-0 on Wednesday night to win a two-leg playoff and earn the 32nd and last spot in the World Cup field in Russia.

The last time the Peruvians reached the World Cup was in 1982 in Spain.

After a goalless draw in New Zealand on Saturday, a more vibrant Peru showed up at the Estadio Nacional.

Despite the absence of their main striker Paolo Guerrero, who has been suspended by FIFA on doping suspicions, the Peruvians controlled the match from the start.

At 28 minutes, striker Jefferson Farfan opened the scoring from the edge of the box burying the ball into the New Zealand net. In tears, the Lokomotiv Moscow forward showed the shirt of his boyhood friend Guerrero to the crowd.

New Zealand's attempt to react and qualify for its third World Cup in history never got even close to the Peruvian goalkeeper.

Then at 65 minutes, defender Christian Ramos netted the second after a mistake from New Zealand's defense on a corner.

Peru's qualification put the South American team in a World Cup pot with Spain, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Croatia.