Peru caused an upset in the second semi-final of the Copa America at the Arena do Gremio in Porto Alegre.

The defending champions Chile were beaten 3-0 by the team who had failed to score in three of their four games in the competition.

Chile had the edge on experience with six players in the squad with at least one hundred caps but were let down by errors. The Copa America holders couldn't finish any of the litany of goalscoring opportunities they created.

Both sides had clearcut chances in the early stages of the game but neither team made the keepers work.

Breakthrough

The breakthrough came for Peru in the 21st minute with a fine left-footed finish by Edison Flores. The cross from the right made its way to the back post where Flores struck it on the volley back across the goalkeeper. Flores was making up for squandering a chance just seconds before.

Chilean goalkeeper Gabriel Arias will not want to watch many replays of the second Peru goal, but it is coming to a bloopers reel near you shortly. Arias sprinted for the corner flag as Peru broke down the right flank. Coyote got closer to Roadrunner than Arias got to the ball. As the cross made its way to the edge of the area, Yoshimar Yotún kept calm.

He controlled with his chest and slotted into the bottom left corner, despite the attention of several Chilean defenders.

Composure

The second goal fired up the Chileans. The more experienced side created chance after chance to maintain pressure on Peru.

Alexis Sanchez had a penalty appeal turned down early in the second half. Arturo Vidal also had two headers saved while Eduardo Vargas hit the post. Peru looked very vulnerable defensively but Chile lacked any sort of composure in front of goal.

On the hour mark, Peru finally got a chance to kill the game but this time it was Yoshimar Yotún's turn to lack composure as he sent the ball high and wide from eight yards out. He then followed up with a long-range effort that finished off target moments later.

The Chileans continued to put pressure on the Peruvian goal but their efforts came to nought. Peru 'keeper Pedro Gallese was up to every challenge.

Vargas was particularly profligate in the second half missing another one-on-one late in the game.

Finish

The coolest finish of the evening came in added time when captain Paolo Guerrero rounded Arias in the Chile goal to send Peru to the final. A brilliant night for 'keeper Gallese was capped by him saving an admittedly poor penalty from Vargas in the dying seconds.

Peru now meet hosts Brazil in the Copa America final at the Maracana on Sunday evening.