A landmark day for Peru, who returned to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1982, ended with a sobering reminder of just how cruel football can be at times. Yussuf Poulsen scored the goal that broke Peru hearts on a night that turned into a personal ordeal for Christian Cueva, who had to be consoled by his teammates after his awful penalty, which was awarded following a pitchside review by the referee, sailed wildly over the bar just before half-time.
Cueva struggled to keep his emotions together at the time as he fought back tears and the midfielder was still shaking his head at the final whistle, along with plenty of other Peru players, as the team whose colourful supporters have travelled to Russia in such huge numbers, capturing the imagination of people from all over the world, struggled to come to terms with a chastening defeat.
Written by Stuart James at the Mordovia Arena, Saransk
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/16/peru-denmark-world-cup-match-report under the title “Yussuf Poulsen winner for Denmark edges out luckless Peru”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
