Óscar Perea is a senior Colombia international. The Club América winger made his debut on Friday night in Cali, playing the whole second half of a 1-0 friendly win over Chile at Estadio Pascual Guerrero.
Néstor Lorenzo sent Perea on at half-time for Nelson Deossa, with Colombia already a goal up through a first-half own goal by Chile defender Guillermo Maripán. Perea played the rest of the match and was booked in the second half as Colombia saw out the win.
Lorenzo picked out Perea among the young players he was glad to give a debut. “I am happy to see Orozco, Rengifo and Perea play, kids who have a big future and who have to pay the price of a debut,” the Colombia coach said at his post-match press conference.
“I asked Perea, Durán and players with real quality to want the ball and take people on,” Lorenzo added. “As we said, we are building the future.”
The debut had been building. Perea scored for Colombia at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile last year, and senior call-ups this autumn had come and gone without a minute. Friday finally brought the 21-year-old his first cap.
It is also the clearest answer yet to the week’s one Club América question about Perea. He started the 2-2 draw at Pumas UNAM last Saturday and came off in the second half with an apparent knock, and the club never gave a diagnosis. A full second half at international level six days later points to a minor issue, not a layoff.
Perea joined América from Strasbourg in July and scored on his club debut, seven minutes after coming on in the 3-1 Leagues Cup win over the Portland Timbers in August. He has three goals in the Apertura, and his role has grown while Brian Rodríguez is out with the hamstring injury the club confirmed on November 4.
Perea stays with Colombia for the second friendly against Chile, on Tuesday in Santiago, so he will miss Club América’s friendly against the New York Red Bulls in Harrison on Saturday. He is due back after that, ahead of the regular-season finale at Tigres UANL on November 21, when first place is on the line.
Keep up with all the Club América news on FutnSoccer, and check the Club América watch guide for how to watch the Águilas in the United States.
