Colombia coach makes winning start

James Rodriguez scored in the 52nd minute to lift visiting Colombia to a 1-0 victory over Perú in South American World Cup qualifying on Sunday.

Rodriguez capitalized on a defending mistake in the area and slotted home a shot from eight meters.

The victory improved Colombia to seven points from four matches in the first official game under Argentine coach José Pekerman.

Colombia had a slight edge in possession and outshot Perú 7-4.

Argentina leads qualifying with 10 points in five matches. 

Chile has nine in five, Uruguay has eight in four and Venezuela has eight from five in a very closely contested qualifying tournament for the 2.014 World Cup.

Perú has only three points in four matches, just above last-place Bolivia with only one point in five matches.

Four more games are on tap next weekend. 

On Saturday it's : Bolivia vs. Paraguay, Venezuela vs. Chile. On Sunday: Uruguay vs. Perú, Ecuador vs. Colombia.

Argentina is off in the next round and plays Brazil in a friendly on June 9 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Lineups :

Perú : Diego Penny, Renzo Revoredo (Raul Ruidiaz, 68) Christian Ramos, John Galliquio, Jesus Alvarez, Rinaldo Cruzado, Carlos Lobaton (William Chiroque, 57) Yoshimar Yotun, Luis Ramirez, Andre Carrillo (Jefferson Farfan, 84) Paolo Guerrero.

Colombia : David Ospina, Luis Carlos Perea, Mario Alberto Yepes, Aquivaldo Mosquera, Pablo Armero, Freddy Guarin, Carlos Sanchez, Guillermo Cuadrado (Aldo Ramirez, 72), James Rodriguez (Jackson Martinez, 90), Dorlan Pabon, Radamel Falcao.