MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay readies for its 15th Copa de America next Sunday in Buenos Aires

Two times striker and best player, Liverpool’s Luis Suárez

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez scored twice as Uruguay beat Peru 2-0 to reach the Copa America final, where it will try for a record 15th South American soccer championship.

Suarez struck twice in five minutes shortly after halftime Tuesday night in La Plata, Argentina, to send Uruguay to the July 24 title game in Buenos Aires. Peru had Juan Vargas red-carded with 22 minutes remaining.

Two-time world champion Uruguay, which shares the record of 14 continental championships with archrival Argentina, will face Paraguay or first-time semi-finalist Venezuela next Sunday.

Of the region top four teams in FIFA world rankings only No. 18 Uruguay made the semi-finals of the 12-nation tournament, following up its final-four appearance at last year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Uruguay ousted host Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez Argentina in the quarterfinals in a penalty shootout, while Brazil’s bid to win its fifth title in the past six editions ended when it missed all four of its penalty attempts following a scoreless draw against Paraguay.

Suarez’s goals lifted Uruguay into its first final since 1999, when La Celeste, as the team is known, lost to Brazil. Uruguay’s most recent title came in 1995.

The Liverpool striker put Uruguay ahead in the 52nd minute, finishing from a narrow angle at the near post after Peru goalkeeper Raul Fernandez parried Diego Forlan’s long-distance shot.

Suarez doubled the lead five minutes later after beating the offside trap. He ran onto Alvaro Pereira’s pass before going around Fernandez and rolling the ball into the unguarded net from just inside the penalty area.

It was Suarez’s third goal of the tournament, putting him atop the goal-scorers alongside Argentina’s Sergio Agüero. Suarez also scored when Uruguay and Peru drew 1-1 in the group stage on July 4.

“Today was a match in which we had to go out and attack, to play, and luckily it worked out well,“ Suarez, comparing it with a more defensive performance against hosts Argentina in Uruguay's quarter-final win on penalties, said in a televised interview.

”I think that to play the final in Argentina is great. Now we have to enjoy (the moment), the important thing is we reached the final which was our objective”.

Peru’s chances of a comeback were dented in the 68th minute when Vargas was shown a straight red card for elbowing Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez took Suarez and Walter Gargano off three minutes later with both players having picked up a yellow card in the first half.

Peruvian coach (Uruguayan born) Sergio Markarian said he was satisfied with what the national team had achieved after so many years, “to be among the best four in South America”, and now is looking ahead to the qualifiers for the Brazil World Cup in 2014. On Saturday Peru will be playing for the third place with who ever looses the match tomorrow between Paraguay and Venezuela.