Australia fall at the last as Peru score two in final World Cup group game

• Australia failed to win a match at a World Cup tournament for the third time in their five participations (1974, 2014 and 2018).
• Peru won their first match at the World Cup since a 4-1 win over Iran in 1978 – 14,625 days ago.
• Peru forward Pablo Guerrero – aged 34 years and 176 days – became the third oldest South American scorer at the World Cup, behind only Argentina’s Martin Palermo (36y 227d) and Obdulio Jacinto Varela of Uruguay (36y 279d).
• Peru’s opening goal in this match was their first at the 2018 World Cup from what was their 28^th shot of the competition.
• Australia’s first two used substitutes in this match – Tim Cahill (38 years) and Daniel Arzani (19 years) – are separated in age by 19 years and 29 days.
• Peru opened the scoring in this match, only the third time they’ve done so in 18 World Cup matches and the first time since 1978 against Iran.
• Tim Cahill became the first Australian to appear at four different World Cup finals (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
• Peru scored as many goals in this match as they managed in their previous eight World Cup games combined (2).
• Australia have not kept a clean sheet in any of their 13 matches at their last four World Cups between 2006 and 2018.
• Australia’s failure to win any of their three matches at the 2018 World Cup mean that Oceania countries (Australia and New Zealand) have now won just two of their 22 matches at the World Cup finals (D7 L13).

Let's all wave goodbye to Australia and Peru. A valiant effort by both in this World Cup just wasn't enough and we will miss the entertaining, attacking play of the South Americans in particular. Australia fell short of the quality required but came so close to progressing... and that's Group C finished!

The assistant referee holds up the number four! That's Cahill's number - is this his time?! Almost certainly not. Peru look the more likely to score and the game is basically over. 

Peru have three v threee. Hurtado is wide right and crosses in... but hits Mooy in a very sensitive place (not his lack of hair, I mean more literal) and Peru win a corner. 

Australia just aren't very good, sadly. Peru have been great today but and exciting when going forwards and now it seems as though Australia have run out of energy.

Australia don't take advantage of space in the Peru box... and Peru can counter! They're away! But Guerrero plays the worst pass of the day and Australia recover. Then they go up the other end and win a corner.

Arzani does well to win a free-kick 25 yards out. Jedinak fancies it.

Over the bar.

FLORES HITS THE POST! Peru have Australia all over the place and a great pass around the defence tears them apart. Guerrero pulls a pass to the edge of the box and Flores comes steaming in, smashes the shot first time and hits the post. Australia survive. But really, they're sinking.

Yellow card for Hurtado. Ally McCoist is trying to work out much fun he's going to have at the after-match party seeing as how heaps of Peru fans are staying at the same hotel as him. He was doing karaoke this morning with them, apparently.

 That was Cahill making his probably last ever Australia entrance and now Carrillo has been taken off for Cartagena. Time running out.

Behich has gone mental at Arzani for not doing his defensive work on that corner. The Peru goalkeeper has picked up a mysterious injury while catching the ball. He'll be keen to recover quickly though. In no way would he want a few minutes to run down.

Peru are dropping deeper and deeper as Australia increase the pressure.

What on earth is going on here? The ball is humped long, Behich chases it towards his own goalkeeper and then blooters the thing away for a corner when the goalkeeper should come off his line and claim it! Poor communication and Peru work the corner nicely. Goal kick.

I'm quite enjoying the Jon Champion - Ally McCoist commentary team. There's a lot of strong patter in there, McCoist definitely the clown but a wise one. A joker who really knows his stuff - the comedy comes from a place of understanding and knowledge, whereas Champion is just full of information.

Anyway, Australia still can't quite forge a clear scoring opportunity but are taking corners quickly and moving the ball around the final third.

Rogic switches the ball, Behich is there and passes to Cahill first time! He must score! Ooooh but the pass is just too far ahead of Cahill.

Australia take Rogic off and put on Irvine. I'm not sure about that, Rogic was one of their best players.

In case you weren't sure if the grass was greener else where, it turns out the France Denmark game is god awful.

 It looks like Ed Snowden has turned up to watch Peru play! Great disguise Ed, but we know it's you.

Peru try to break, Rogic spots the danger and holds onto Cueva to stop it. Booking.

Australia win a free-kick wide right as Leckie battles against the left-back. Cahill will be around for this one.

It looks like Peru have to make a substitution. Tapia has picked up a muscle injury and will be replaced by Hurtado.

So close for Australia! Behich shoots wide from 12 yards after Cahill wins the header from the corner. The ball coes in, headed on and there's another volley on goal! Blocked! Cahill is causing huge problems already!

Uh oh, the counter-attack is on now and Leckie races Advincula back into his own half and then wipes him out.

This is the change I expected. Kruse comes off, and Arzani comes on. Australia have to go for this now and have the ammunition to do so. Milligan hurls in a long throw and Jedinak flicks it on... but nobody follows up at the back post!

Lots of holding going on in the area but Peru smash the ball away. A quick, long throw-in can't be kept alive by Cahill and Peru get a goal kick.

The fourth oldest player at the World Cup apparently. 

Australia are going at Peru now and Leckie wins a free-kick just ahead of and slightly to the right of the box. Rogic and Mooy are working on their plan... and Mooy steps up... and hits the wall. Corner. And a dazed Peruvian defender.

AWOOOOOGA. TIM CAHILL ALERT. Australia's darling is about to come on and attempt to change this game. He replaces Juric and gets a rousing reception from the Aussie fans. I just cannot see it happening based on what's happening on the pitch but football's a funny old game.

GUERRERO HAS HIS GOAL! And Australia are crashing out of the World Cup!

Really well taken finish by Guerrero - although there is a deflection - but it's from a nice move. Peru get forward down the left wing far too easily, poor defending by Australia, and Peru are now 2-0 up.

Peru are taking their time. They win a goal kick, the goalkeeper takes aaaages to launch it up the pitch and Peru turn that into an attack. Australia drop deep and absorb the pressure. 

Peru substitution: Aquino on, Yotun off.

Do the Aussies have it in them to find two goals? We're about to find out.

It's not enough for Australia at the moment, and that doesn't even take into account that Peru are beating them just now either. Massive 45 minutes to come. The Hollywood script sees Arzani come on and score the equaliser with Tim Cahill grabbing a last minute winner, moments after France have taken the lead against Denmark. But this is real life, and if there's anything I've learned in my 32.5 years, is that things tend not to go the way you want them to. Especially if you've put a bet on.

Not the best I've ever seen but it's been entertaining so far.

This is what the teams look like:

A great half time result for Peru but that's all it is at the moment. They are halfway to a tremendous victory and Australia are almost all of the way out of the World Cup. If they can't find a way back into this one, they are doomed.

Peru are now attacking well, Carrillo tries a lovely bit of skill inside the area, dragging the ball behind his own foot then trying to knock it past the defender with his next touch but he's blocked.

The free-kick delivery is excellent but it's headed wide from six yards. That's a big miss.

 Trent Sainsbury has a name like a guy becomes a superhero but not a great one. One of the Marvel films you know you'll never watch. Racoon Boy or something.

Suddenly Jedinak hits a long ball down the wing and Behich is high up the pitch to win it. He gets a free-kick after drawing a foul on the right of the box, Mooy stands over it.

It's slowed down a bit. Australia passing around their own half.

That's a pretty angle of the goal. But hang on, Australia should score here! It's a great pass by Rogic who splits the defence with one pass! The ball comes in from Krus and Leckie dives into try and convert into an empty net but the defence slide with him and force it behind for a corner.

 The corner is sent high to the back post and headed behind for a goal kick.

Peru attack quickly but Cueva's pass from left nearly goes out for a throw in and the move slows down. Yotun ends up having a go from miles out but smacks his shot well wide.

If you were wondering where Jefferson Farfan was, I've just found out that he's missing this game after suffering a serious head injury in training. Farfan collided with a teammate and was apparently unconscious for a good two minutes but is said to be fine. Rules prevent him playing for 72 hours after the incident, hence his absence. 

"It was a scare but he is doing well. The most important thing is he is recovering," said the Peru manager.

The goalkeeper catches the cross from Mooy then punts it long towards a forward but only ends up giving Australia back possession.

That's brilliant from Rogic! He takes on four defenders on the edge of the box and manages to get a shot away! It's hit low and the goalkeeper blocks, turning it behind for a corner.

Cueva has the ball and turns his man and Peru could be in! Sainsbury takes him out and it's a free-kick 30/35 yards out. No booking. 

The ball is chipped into the area and CUEVA HAS A FREE HEADER! He's unmarked and flicks it over his own head but Ryan can save easily. Poor marking from Australia there.

Peru's planning is working just fine. Sit deep, hit a ball over the top into space if Guerrero can find any and just absorb the Australian attacks when they come forward.

Peru fans have been waiting 36 years for that goal and it was worth it! Australia step up their attacking urgency straight away and get a header at goal after a cross sent in from the left.

It's knocked over the bar.

WOWOWOW! WHAT A GOAL! PERU HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD!

Peru pass out from the back then launch a long ball over the top, Guerrero crosses to the back post and Carrillo hits it perfectly on the volley and sends a low powerful shot into the bottom corner! What a strike that was! The crowd goes nuts!

Ramos has hurt himself while stretching and might be injured... aaaaand he's fine. Disregard this post.

Ally McCoist has claimed, jokingly, that Archie Gemmill's wondergoal in the 1978 World Cup is the best of all time. Jon Champion isn't having it.

Australia in total control of possession at the moment and Peru are sitting deep to try and block them. 

Australia have a dangerous attack here. Leckie shifts left and right and wins space to move the ball on, Rogic tries a shot but is blocked and the ball ends up out for a throw. Peru defend it and force Australia back but they're soon in the final third once more.

A searching switched pass for Risdon goes behind for a goal kick.

Jedinak is shown a yellow card for catching Cueva on the shoulder with a high boot. You read that correctly. Cueva is fine to continue but that will have been ever so slightly painful. 

Rogic runs in behind the defence down the right and does well to hook the ball across the area but the goalkeeper dives and saves it low. Both teams are trying to attack here, it's an open game and already enjoyable to watch.

Both are pressing high up the pitch too and Peru might have played themselves into trouble here. Leckie wins a throw near the box.

First shot on goal! Leckie has the ball wide right, cuts back and tries a cross which hits off a defender and lands on the edge of the box. Jedinak hits it but punts his effort way over the bar.

The atmosphere inside the stadium is brilliant. There's heaps of noise coming from both sets of supporters (though mostly Peru). Australia are passing around the defence, Peru move up to press high and then the ball is knocked forward to try and build from midfield.

Peru have the ball from the start and get men forward quickly into a 2-4-4 shape. They want to score. The ball is given away though Mooy plays in Kruse down the left... but Peru recover.

Here we go! 

 Solid anthem singing from the Aussies and particularly Jedinak, who actually sings it, rather than talking in tune.

Oh wow that's awesome. Peru give it everything! The fans are sooo much louder than Australia too and the players roar out the words.

And the roar at the end from the crowd was massive! This is going to be ace. 

Remember, Peru can't qualify but Australia can, if France beat Denmark. France have rested most of their best players...

It's not even a costume.

These international tournaments are so fun to be at. If you can ever get to one but just aren't sure, do it. It's brilliant.

My god that's beautiful. I really hope no promotions companies are watching and are thinking about sending me one. I'd hate that so much. Urgh.

But where does this kit rank in Thom Gibbs' very funny (and astute) World Cup kit rankings? Find out here:

4-2-3-1

Gallese; Trauco, Ramos, Advincula, Santamaria, Cueva, Tapia, Carrillo, Yotun, Flores, Guerrero

Arzani hasn't made the starting XI then but we could well see him if Australia are chasing a goal late on.

Australia have high hopes for this young man. A 19 year old currently playing for Melbourne City (part of that whole City group thing), Australia believe he may be the next big thing, or at least as entertaining to watch as Harry Kewell used to be. 

He came on as a substitute in Australia's draw with Denmark and impressed as a left inside-forward, making things happen with a mixture of pace, balance, skill and desire to go forward. Hopefully he'll get a chance to do his thing today.

You'd have to say that Peru are winning this one:

The glorious Fisht Olympic Stadium. Named after what Sean Connery did last time he was in the area. As in 'What did you do today, Mr Connery?'

It is not named for this reason. Am I sorry for making such a bad joke, one that surely won't land? Only time will tell.

Hello! And welcome to our liveblog for Australia vs Peru, a game the Aussies have to win by several goals if they are to qualify for the knock-out rounds - and that's only if France beat Denmark in the other game in Group C