Argentina cruise past Peru

Juan Roman Riquelme (two), Leo Messi and Javier Mascherano were on the scoresheet for Alfio Basile's men.

Argentina dominated from start-to-finish, although sterling first half defending by Peru saw the sides enter half-time goalless.

With incisive passing and movement Argentina men threatened to cut Peru apart from the off, a combination of desperate last-ditch challenges, good goalkeeping and good fortune keeping them in the match, Messi hitting the woodwork after sending in a deflected shot following a trademark surging run.

But Peru went behind almost immediately after the break when Tevez - who started the match on the bench for Diego Milito but came on after the Zaragoza striker failed to impress in the opening 45 minutes - set up Riquelme with a superb flick, the on-loan Boca Juniors midfielder rifling home from the edge of the box.

Tevez then hit the crossbar with a spectacular flying header from Javier Zanetti's cross and Argentina doubled their lead soon afterwards when Riquelme carved open the Peru defence with a superb through ball that sent Messi free to make no mistake with the low finish.

Argentina were dominant now, the rejuvenated Juan Sebastian Veron walking off to a standing ovation. Mascherano made it 3-0 after superb interplay from Tevez and Messi saw the Manchester United target feed the Barcelona starlet, who forced a superb save from the goalkeeper only for the ball to fall into Mascherano's path, the Liverpool man finishing with aplomb.

The performance was capped-off by a sweeping counter-attack which saw keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri clearing from outside his own area and freeing Tevez, the 23-year-old shrugging off two challenges before unselfishly slipping the ball into Riquelme who stroked home his second of the night and fourth overall in the Copa.

Argentina finish the quarter final phase as favourites to win the tournament ahead of Brazil, who face Uruguay in their semi final.