Bayern enforcer Arturo Vidal made a match-winning contribution as Copa America holders Chile boosted their flagging hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 2-1 victory over Peru. Vidal scored both goals for his country on 10 and 85 minutes, sealing Chile’s fourth win from ten games so far. Edison Flores had brought Peru level after 76 minutes of the clash in Santiago de Chile.
Ten games into the South American qualifying competition, five-time world champions Brazil lead the standings on 21 points, one clear of Uruguay and four ahead of Ecuador and Colombia. Argentina are fifth on 16 points, with Paraguay and Chile a further two points back. The top four nations qualify directly for the finals in Russia. The team in fifth enter a play-off against a representative of another continental federation for a berth at the World Cup.
