LIMA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Peru earned a berth in their first World Cup finals since 1982 by completing a 2-0 aggregate victory over New Zealand in their intercontinental playoff on Thursday.
A 0-0 draw in the first leg in Wellington on Saturday meant that both sides needed only a 1-0 victory at Estadio Nacional in Lima to book a ticket to Russia next year.
Peru took the lead in the 28th minute when Jefferson Farfan latched onto a Christian Cueva cross and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic following a counterattack.
Christian Ramos doubled the hosts' lead just after the hour mark from the edge of the six-yard box after a corner kick.
New Zealand's best chance came in second-half stoppage time when Chris Wood had only the goalkeeper to beat after a rare defensive error by the hosts.
But Wood's moment of hesitation allowed Pedro Gallese to partially block his shot, which rolled meekly wide of the post.
Peru last appeared at the World Cup finals in the 1982 tournament in Spain, when they were eliminated in the first round after two draws and a loss.
Ricardo Gareca's team will be hoping that influential striker Paolo Guerrero will be available for next year's competition after he missed the matches against New Zealand because of a provisional doping ban.
The 2018 World Cup will be played in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15.
