Peru seeks first playoff victory in New Zealand

LIMA,PERÚ-AGOSTO 31. Selecciones de Perú y Bolivia se enfrentan en el estadio Monumental por las Eliminatorias al Mundial de Rusia 2018. Foto: ANDINA/Luis Iparraguirre

08:00 | Wellington (New Zealand), Nov. 10.

Peru is ready to play its first Russia 2018 qualifying-playoff match against home-team New Zealand this Saturday in Wellington.

Coached by Argentinean Ricardo Gareca, the Red-White stays focused a few hours before the opening whistle for the clash against the All Whites.

As is known, the Inca team landed at Auckland Airport on Tuesday at 08:45 AM (local time) after a 14-hour trip from Lima.

Regretfully, Peru arrived without its captain and all-time leading scorer Paolo Guerrero, who has been suspended for 30 days by soccer's governing body FIFA for producing abnormal doping test result after a World Cup goal-less draw against Argentina on October 5. Yet, he is confident "the truth will come out soon."

Since then, Gareca's squad has been training hard in order to secure a spot at the World Cup.

It must be noted Peru's training sessions have always been held at 4:00 PM, since the first leg of the Peru-New Zealand FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff tie will kick off at the same hour.

This way, Peruvian athletes were able to get used to the weather and the wind speed at that moment of the day.

Peruvians arrived in Wellington on Friday morning (local time) after taking a charter flight from Auckland.

A large number of fans showed up at the airport to welcome and support their national team looking for a victory.

The return leg will be held at Lima's National Stadium (Peru) on November 15 at 9:15 PM (local time).

Following both matches, it will be known —finally— if Peruvians return to a World Cup after 35 years.

(END) JAA/MVB

Published: 11/10/2017

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Peru seeks first playoff victory in New Zealand

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