Perú Defeats Bolivia 2-0 With Lapadula and Castro Goals

Peru defeated Bolivia 2–0 in an international friendly on Friday at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva, closing out its competitive calendar for the year.

Gianluca Lapadula broke the deadlock in the 12th minute by converting a precise penalty kick, according to América TV. The early strike gave the home side an advantage in a match that marked the national team’s return to the venue known as Matute after more than two years.

Head coach Mano Menezes deployed a starting lineup featuring Pedro Gallese in goal, alongside Marco Huamán, Erick Noriega, Fabio Gruber, and Marcos López in defense, as reported by Serperuano. The midfield featured Wilder Cartagena, Yoshimar Yotún, and Jairo Vélez, while Andy Polo, Lapadula, and Maxloren Castro rounded out the attack.

Maxloren Castro secured the result in the 87th minute with a long-range shot into the corner, as detailed by ESPN Deportes. The 18-year-old forward received a pass from Jesús Pretell at the edge of the box and capitalized on space left by the visiting defense to score his first senior international goal in five appearances.

Erinson Ramírez also made his debut for the squad during the match, leaving positive impressions off the bench, according to infobae.

The fixture served as a preparation match for upcoming South American World Cup qualifiers, marking the second victory in eight matches for Menezes since taking charge of the squad, and his first win on home soil, per infobae.

The team entered the friendly carrying a five-match winless run that included defeats to Spain, the United States, Canada, and Colombia, alongside a draw with Mexico, as outlined by Tu Diario Huánuco.

The next official preparatory match for the national team is scheduled for March 2027, according to infobae.