Chile, Peru see shift in Latin power balance at Copa

MENDOZA, Argentina (AFP) - Chile and Peru go into Tuesday's Pacific 'clasico' group encounter at the Copa America seeking to show the balance of power is shifting westwards in the Latin American game.

Whereas holders Brazil, hosts Argentina and World Cup semi-finalist dark horses Uruguay have yet to record a single win after two games apiece the Chileans and Peruvians have both moved to the brink of the quarter-finals playing some of the best football at the event to date.

Chile are yearning to go one better than four final defeats while Peru want a return to the heady days of the mid-1970s when a skilful side landed the 1975 Copa and then reached the second phase of the ensuing World Cup.

With young talents emerging, both countries are determined to make up for lost time but first will look to put one over the neighbours in Mendoza.

The Chileans have been almost playing at home, with more than 30,000 fans trekking over the border to watch a come-from-behind victory over Mexico and the draw with Uruguay while Peru also held the Uruguayans before sending the Mexicans packing.

Chile might easily have lost their way after the well-respected Marcelo Bielsa, who led them to the World Cup finals last year after a decade-long absence, resigned over a disagreement with the federation authorities.

While Bielsa embarks on a new adventure with Athletic Bilbao in Spain Claudio Borghi has taken up the baton and is continuing his predecessor's attacking style with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal both in impressive form.

"We are confident we can achieve something," insists Vidal, who stars for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga but is a target for Bayern Munich and Juventus after earning rave reviews at the Copa.

"I don't know if we are the best. We have played only two games and the other teams are starting to settle down," says Vidal. "But we believe we can be in the mix when it comes to the title."

A draw would likely suit both sides - though Uruguay could become a third side in the group on five points if they beat Mexico in La Plata.

But with neighbourly pride at stake Vidal says they have to chase a win.

"We mustn't look on it as a 'clasico' but as an important game where we can keep on improving and consolidating what we have done to date," he told reporters.

Peru's Hamburg striker Paolo Guerrero has enabled the 'Incas' to make light of the unavailability of both Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan, scoring in both games to be provisional tournament top scorer.

The Peruvians, without a World Cup appearance since 1982 and who finished bottom of the regional standings in 2010 qualifying - Chile placed second - are suddenly on the up under Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarian, who says his target is a good 2014 World Cup qualifying showing.

Guerrero expects a battle royal on Tuesday.

"This has been a really close group and the match against the Chileans will be tough, just as were the other two games. But I feel great as my teammates are creating goalscoring opportunities for me."