Peru were making their first ever forays on English soil, with their only two previous meetings coming over 50-years-ago in Lima. There were new beginnings all over for the South Americans, with new coach Pablo Bengoechea making his first outing in the role. He choose to exclude experienced trio Claudio Pizzaro, Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan, while gave a starting debut Jean Deza of Montpellier.
Goals from Daniel Sturridge, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka saw England depart on their warm-up tour ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ with a 3-0 win over a plucky and well-organised Peru.
England did not have everything their own way against an experimental line-up for the Andean side, though Sturridge's stunning strike and two late efforts from corners saw home fans able to say goodbye to the Group D side in positive fashion.
In contrast, Roy Hodgson went with a strong line-up as the Three Lions in the first of three warm-up games ahead of Brazil 2014. Peru's last victory came against England's next opponents, Ecuador, over a year ago, with the two World Cup-bound sides meeting in Miami, USA on Wednesday.
The hosts realised they might be stretched within the first 15 minutes, with Peru's pacey attack unsettling their backline. Joe Hart had already been called into action before a hugely-deflected Deza shot forced him into a full-stretch save. England countered though, releasing Adam Lallana on a mazy run that saw Sturridge flash an effort of his own just wide.
His next effort was right out of the top drawer, however. After a throw-in from Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson found him around the edge of the box, Sturridge earned half-a-yard of space before curling a sublime effort into the top left corner. Speed troubled England again before half-time, with Luis Ramirez getting in behind and forcing Hart into action once again.
England's dominance of possession continued across the break, but clear-cut chances were at a premium. Deza's confidence on his debut continued to show, however, as he tried a dipping, swerving effort from 35-yards that almost got the better of Hart.
Peru almost found themselves level when Glen Johnson's heavy touch and slip allowed Andre Carillo to feed Deza through, only for a saving tackle from Jagielka to deny him a goal. England punished them moments later, as Cahill rose to meet Leighton Baine's cross from the left to head the hosts to a comfortable scoreline.
After preventing a goal at one end, Jagielka secured the result at the other, slotting home after Raul Fernandez spilled the impressive Lallana's corner under pressure from Cahill.
