LIMA, Peru, July 9 (Reuters) - Two players were sent off as Copa America hosts Peru beat Venezuela 3-1 on Friday, finally giving the fanatical home crowd something to shout about after their disappointing drawn first outing against Bolivia.

Jefferson Farfan put Peru ahead in the first half before

Nolberto Solano added a second in the 61st minute and set up the

third for Santiago Acasiete 11 minutes later.

Massimo Margiotta scored Venezuela's consolation in the

Group A match.

Peru captain Claudio Pizarro was sent off for a second

bookable offence in the 86th minute while Venezuela had been

reduced to 10 men in the 64th after midfielder Miguel Mea Vitali

suffered a similar fate.

Peru took early control the match but suffered from their

usual failings in front of goal until Farfan followed through to

score in the 34th minute after Venezuelan goalkeeper Gilberto

Angelucci failed to hold the ball.

Chilean referee Ruben Selman gave the 19-year-old, who

signed for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago, a yellow card

for taking his shirt off as he celebrated his goal, breaking

recently-implemented FIFA rules against stripping off.

Even after their goal, Peru, held 2-2 by underdogs Bolivia

on Tuesday, continued to squander chances.

Andres Mendoza was the main culprit as he failed to

capitalise on the good service from Pizarro and playmaker

Roberto Palacios.

Solano finally scored the second from 10 metres in the 61st

minute as he slotted the ball in the right corner after he

connected with a low pass from Mendoza.

Defender Santiago Acasiete added a third goal in the 72nd

minute with a terrific diving header after Solano's swerving

cross.

Venezuela grabbed a goal back two minutes later, catching

Peru on the counter attack with a dipping long range shot by

substitute Margiotta that found keeper Oscar Ibanez off his

line.

The Red Wines also had a second goal disallowed for after

referee Selman harshly awarded a foul on keeper Ibanez.

Peru, who have four points from two games, are all but

mathematically qualified for the last eight.

Venezuela have no points but still have an outside chance of

qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams if they beat

Bolivia in their final game on Monday.