By DPA
Caracas (Venezuela) : Peru and Uruguay secured places in the quarterfinals of the Copa America in Venezuela, though neither side played high standard football to progress.
Peru came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Bolivia Tuesday, and Uruguay played out a goalless draw with host the already qualified Venezuela in the final round of play in Group A, which sealed the elimination of the Bolivian team.
The results left Venezuela atop Group A with five points. Peru were second with four points like Uruguay but with a better goal difference, while Bolivia finished on two points.
Bolivia probably deserved a favourable result in Merida, but a brace from Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro kept Peru in the race despite their poor showing.
"The group was not up to the task during many segments in the game, especially in the first half," Peru national coach Julio Cesar Uribe admitted, and he promised improvement for the quarterfinals.
Bolivia coach Erwin Sanchez did not want to look for excuses and stressed that he was proud of his men because they managed to "present a new image of Bolivian football" despite the early elimination.
"We are out of the Copa through our own mistakes," Sanchez said.
"We are out because although we had sufficient merits, we did not take enough care of details in the match which cost us the result."
Bolivian striker Jaime Moreno put the score 1-0 from outside the box in the 24th minute, but a Pizarro header equalised 10 minutes later.
In first-half injury time, Jhasmany Campos again put Bolivia ahead. The side coached by Sanchez appeared set to surprise almost everyone by advancing to the quarterfinals, particularly after Peruvian substitute Jhoel Herrera was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 77th minute.
However, Pizarro delivered another header that revived Peru six minutes from time.
In the second game of the day, Venezuela and Uruguay played out a goalless draw that was painful to watch. It was the first scoreless match in the 2007 Copa America and also the worst game of the tournament.
The draw left the hosts top of the group and allowed Uruguay to go through to the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed teams, and both teams appeared quite happy with the result right from the start.
The top two in each of the three groups in the first round advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa America, along with the two best third placed teams.
Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru and Uruguay have already secured a place in the next round. Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and the US still have a chance to advance, each with a game in hand.