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Guerrero hat trick powers Peru past Bolivia, into Copa America semis

Paolo Guerrero scored a hat trick to hand Peru a 3-1 win against Bolivia and send them into the Copa America semifinals.

Two goals in three first-half minutes set Peru on their way and Guerrero grabbed his third after the break following a howler from Danny Bejarano in his own half.

Marcelo Martins Moreno scored a late penalty for Bolivia but it was mere consolation and Ricardo Gareca's men will now face hosts Chile on Monday in Santiago in the final four.

Peru enjoyed the better of the opening stages and Guerrero tried his luck after 10 minutes but cleared the bar after cutting in from the left.

Los Incas continued to dominate and Claudio Pizarro fired over the bar after a corner caused chaos in the Bolivian area and Peru soon had their opener in the 20th minute.

The ball was threaded to Juan Manuel Vargas on the left and he sent over an inviting cross which looked to go in off the newly-signed Flamengo man's shoulder as he went for the header on the edge of the six-yard box.

It was no more than Peru deserved and just three minutes later they made it 2-0.

Bolivia won a free-kick in a dangerous position but when that was cleared as far as Christian Cueva, he played a quick one-two and sent a beautiful ball over the top of the defence which Guerrero latched onto and slotted home.

Alejandro Morales fired an effort over the bar from distance at the other end as Bolivia looked desperate but they had a better chance when Martins Moreno's header was stopped by Pedro Gallese.

Some slick passing on the edge of the box from Cueva and Guerrero then set Jefferson Farfran free in the box but he hit the outside of the post and he found the woodwork again, sending a free-kick onto the bar in first-half stoppage-time.

Bolivia made two changes at the break and looked more of a threat in the early stages of the second half but it was Peru who continued to have the chances with Pizarro bringing a save from Romel Quinonez and Farfan blazing a shot off target.

The Schalke forward had a better chance just after the hour as Yoshimar Yotun released him but he fired his shot wide of the far post.

Ricardo Pedriel was brought on by Bolivia and almost instantly in the thick of the action as he went down in a heap under Gallese's challenge but the claims for a penalty were waved away.

The game was over as a contest 16 minutes from time as Bejarano's error gifted Guerrero his hat-trick when the midfielder played a pass straight into the path of the striker who bore down on goal and slotted home.

Bolivia had their consolation with six minutes to play as Martins Moreno netted from the spot after Luis Advincula had felled Damian Lizio in the box, but it was too little too late.