The Copa America 2007 opened with a shock result as Peru thrashed pre-tournament favorites Uruguay 3-0.

Goals from Miguel Villalta, Juan Carlos Marino and Paolo Guerrero were enough for Peru to defeat a sluggish Uruguay in the opening round of the tournament.

The first goal came in the 27th minute when Peru took a short corner and Jefferson Farfan curled in a cross from the left which was gleefully headed home by Villalta from close range. Five minutes later the ball was once again in the net for Peru through Guerrero, but referee ruled out the effort as offside.

Uruguay created the first chance of the game near the end of the half through Fabian Estoyanoff, whose dipping shot was saved brilliantly by an alert Leao Butron. Uruguay tried to changes things at half time, replacing Fabian Canobbio with Cristian Rodriguez and the substitution very nearly worked, but an acrobatic Butron once again came to his team's rescue.

After a brief period of aggressiveness, Uruguay was once again pushed to the back foot, with Peru coming very close to doubling its lead when Guerrero glided in from the right side and passed the ball to a sliding Claudio Pizarro whose shot went just wide of the back post.

However a second goal was not to be denied and Peru got it in the 70th minute when Marino released a burst of speed to come into the penalty box from the right side and smashed the ball straight into the net.

With Uruguay not able to chalk up any kind of a threat, the match was a foregone conclusion but Peru managed to add a third in the 89th minute when Guerrero got his goal with a simple tap in from a Mendoza pass.

Peru next play hosts Venezuela while Uruguay is pitted against Bolivia on June 30.