For the first time in 40 years, Peru won a World Cup game.
And Orlando City SC midfielder Yoshi Yotun was a big reason why.
In the final Group C game on Tuesday, Yotun hit a terrific long ball to help set up Peru’s first goal at this World Cup, with Andre Carrillo volleying home a cross from Paolo Guerrero.
Guerrero, the team’s captain, later added another goal to lead Peru to a 2-0 win over Australia.
Making their first World Cup appearance since 1982, Peru finished third in Group C after two narrow and agonizingly difficult 1-0 losses to France and Denmark, both of whom will advance.
Despite the group-stage exit, though, the scores of Peru fans who made the trip to Russia thoroughly enjoyed Peru’s first World Cup win since 1978 and their first World Cup goals since 1982.
Yotun started all three games for Peru from his defensive midfield spot, but came out at halftime Tuesday after picking up a yellow card. The Portland Timbers’ Andy Polo, who was also named to Peru’s final World Cup squad, did not make an appearance in any of the three contests.
