Welcome to the highlights of Sportstar's coverage of Copa America semifinal between Brazil and Peru being played at the Estadio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro.
That's all for today!! Thanks for tuning in!! Goodbye and stay safe!!
The Peruvians tried their best in the second best but Brazil held on. Gareca's half time changes made some positive impact but Peru could not break the stubborn Brazilian defence.
Lucas Paqueta's first half goal sends Brazil to the Copa America final, where it will face either Argentina or Colombia.
MATCH REPORT: Brazil beats Peru 1-0 to move into Copa America final
The moment that made all the difference
FULL TIME (BRAZIL 1 PERU 0)- The Selecao advance to the Copa America final where they would face either Argentina or Colombia.
90+6' FOUL- Naive foul by Sergio Pena on Thiago Silva inside Brazil's half. Free kick to Brazil. That should be it.
90+4' Final moments as Gallese kicks long in search for a Peruvian head.
90+3' As things stand, Tite's Brazil seems to have grinded out another result to its favour. It is becoming a habit for them.
90+2' BRAZIL SUB- Douglas Luiz replaces Lucas Paqueta.
90+1' Lucas Paqueta has been lying on the pitch for quite some time now. Where is the Brazil medical team? Peru players understandably not happy with the prolonged halt.
FIVE ADDED MINUTES!!!
90' BOOKING- Peru's Marcos Lopez sees yellow.
89' PERU SUB- Gerald Tavara replaces Renato Tapia.
89' BOOKING- Vinicius Jr. goes inside the referee's book.
87' Time running out for the Peruvians. They have put in a great shift in the second half but haven't been able to find the net. Gareca's changes at the break have been positive.
85' TRIPLE CHANGE BRAZIL- Fabinho, Vinicius Jr. and Eder Militao replaces Fred, Richarlison and Renan Lodi.
81' PERU SUB- Santiago Ormego replaces Chrsitian Cueva.
81' CHANCE- A good ball in from a Peru free kicki, which found the head of Callens. He could not guide the header towards goal as Ederson looked beaten there.
79' A good move by Brazil, which ended with Lodi putting in a searching cross inside the box from the left. Gallese collects it easily.
75' PERU SUB- Carlos Saavedra replaces Aldo Corzo.
74' Peru finding channels, through which it is displaying a good passing display and putting the Brazil defence on pressure- something which was absent in the first-half.
71' An exquisite pass by Neymar to Richarlison, who got behind the Peru defence. There was a coming together inside the box where Richarlison went down. Brazil player cry penalty but referee says nothing doing.
70' BRAZIL SUB- Everton Ribeiro replaces Everton Soares.
69' A good stretch of possession by Brazil as it looks to make a chance to open up Peru. Tite's men aren't as comfortable as the first half.
65' SHOT- Neymar with a first time shot at Gallese's near post but it soars high over the Peru goal.
62' SHOT- Everton with a shot at Gallese but its an easy one for the Peru keeper.
61' SAVE- Garcia with a good shot at Ederson, which he saves. Thiago Silva clears the rebound before any Peru player could latch onto it.
59' Good pressure by Peru on the Brazilian defence- something we weren't really seeing in the first half.
56' BOOKING- Yoshimar Yotun of Peru is booked for his challenge on Richarlison.
54' Lapadula goes over on his ankle. Painful one that. He should be able to continue as he is back on his feet.
52' SHOT- Peru's Garcia shoots from distance. The grounded shot was weak and off target.
49' SHOT- Best move by Peru in this game. Yotun releases Lapadula with a lovely aerial through. Lapadula, from the right, cuts back to his left and shoots at Ederson, who makes the save.
46' PERU SUBS- Razil Garcia and Marcos Lopez replace Christian Ramos and Miguel Trauco.
SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY!!!
It has been all Brazil in the first half. Peru has not been given any chance to flourish by this talented Brazil squad. The 1-0 scoreline is a false indicator of the domination Brazil has enjoyed in the first 45 minutes.
Peru's moment of the half has to be that brilliant double save by Gallese.
Paqueta, who has scored in back-to-back matches for Brazil for the first time in his career had a injury worry late in the first half but it is nothing worrying.
Stay tuned for the second half. This game looks like it has more goals in it.
HALF-TIME! (BRAZIL 1 PERU 0)
45+5' Neymar with a nice cross from the right, which finds Fred's head. The Manchester United player header is not on target.
45+4' He is up now. Nothing worrying by the looks of it.
45+3' Paqueta currently down. the reason seems unclear as he is tended by the medical team.
45+2' Peru enjoying its first decent passage of possession in the match. it hasn't threat Brazil but right now, even some possession can help Gareca's team gain some confidence.
FIVE ADDED MINUTES!!
44' Brazil has walked over Peru in this first half. It just leads by one goal but the overall dominance it has shown, Peru will need a monumental effort to come back into the match.
41' Peru making an effort to make something out of the match but Lapadula, its furthest player and main forward looks so isolated.
37' That looks painful. Goalscorer Paqueta and Trauco with a clash of heads as both players are down on the pitch.
35' GOOOALLLL!! PAQUETA SCORES!! BRAZIL TAKES THE LEAD!! This was long time coming in all honesty. Richarlison released Neymar who does well to shield the ball from Peru's defence and show some lovely feet. He squares the ball to Paqueta who lashes it in.
32' SHOT- Richarlison takes a shot at Gallese under pressure but the deflection takes all the sting off it as the Peru keeper gathers.
29' Peru under a mountain of pressure. Its all Brazil right now. It has done everything but score.
25' Peru playing a dangerous game. Richarlison was away courtesy a wonderful ball from the middle of the park. Gallese was far off his line and was a spectator as Richarlison sent a cross inside the box with Neymar and Everton lurking to score inside an unprotected Peru goal. Nothing comes of it in the end.
24' Brazil with some play to find Neymar, who looked to carve out an opening for a shot. The Peru defence did a decent job of not allowing the Brazilian to take a shot at goal.
20' That heroic bit of keeping came at a cost. Gallese seems to have taken a hit on his face. He is down right now, tended by the medical team. He should be fine.
19' DOUBLE SAVE- Wow some heroic keeping from Gallese there. Paqueta with a wonderful cut back from the right, which found Neymar. The Brazilian thought he had scored but Gallese saved his shot from point-blank range. Richarlison had a follow-up shot, which Gallese saved as well.
19' SHOT- Its Casemiro from distance again. He seems to be in the mood today.
17' What Peru needs right now is a prolonged stretch of possession but Brazil not allowing the men in white to settle at all.
14' SHOT- Brazil piling on the pressure as expected. This time its Everton with a grounded shot but Gallese collects easily.
12' SHOT- A rocket of a shot by Casemiro from a free kick. The position seemed a tad bit far for a direct shot but Casemiro struck the ball well. But, it was straight at the keeper and at a comfortable height for him. Roberto Carlos-esuqe shot by the Brazilian midfielder.
8' CHANCE- A great ball by Paqueta through the channel to Richarlison who found Neymar with a cutback from the right. Neymar's shot is nowhere near the goal.
5' An early indication- Everton will be a nuisance for Peru on the right. A talented player with quick feet, he would always be eager to feed some delicious balls inside Peru's box.
3' A confident start by Peru with some early forward balls. Brazil will look to keep the ball and start dictating the tempo soon.
1' KICK OFF!!
04:30 a.m- AND WE ARE UNDERWAY!!
Starting Lineups!!
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Ederson (GK); Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Lodi; Fred, Casemiro; Everton, Paqueta, Richarlison; Neymar
Subs: Alisson (GK), Weverton (GK), Emerson, Alex Sandro, Militão, Ortiz, Fabinho, Douglas, Ribeiro, Firmino, Vinicius, Gabigol
Coach: Tite
Peru (3-5-1-1): Gallese (GK); Santamaria, Ramos, Callens; Trauco, Yotun, Tapia, Pena, Corzo; Cueva; Lapadula
Subs: Caceda (GK), Carvallo (GK), Abram, Araujo, Lopez, Lora, Tavara, Cartagena, Garcia, Valera, Iberico, Ormeno
Coach: Ricardo Gareca
Defending Copa America champion Brazil is still regarded as the team to beat — not bad for a tournament some of its players didn't even want to be in.
Few expect that favourite tag to change as Brazil gets ready for Monday's semifinal against Peru, a team that the Seleção thrashed 4-0 two weeks ago in the group stage.
The winner at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro will play Saturday's final at the historic Maracana Stadium against Argentina or Colombia.
"It is obvious we are favourites for being at home, but we need to know how to deal with that," Brazil midfielder Fred said at a news conference on Sunday.
"Players want to have the match of their lives against Brazil. The last one (beating Chile 1-0 in the quarterfinals) was tough, but the next will be tougher. Peru will be motivated, trying to win, it will be the match of their lives."
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Brazil and Peru played in the 2019 Copa America final, with host Brazil winning 3-1 before nearly 70,000 fans. Monday's match will be played without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two key strikers won't be playing in the semifinal. Brazil's Gabriel Jesus and Peru's André Carrillo (against Paraguay) were sent off during the quarterfinals. Brazil's Everton, one of the top scorers at the 2019 Copa America edition, and veteran Christian Cueva are set to take their places.
Brazil advanced to the semifinals after a hard-fought win with 10 men for almost all of the second half against Chile.
Peru recovered from its 4-0 defeat against the host by beating Colombia and Venezuela and securing a draw with Ecuador. It reached the semifinals on penalties after a 3-3 draw with Paraguay.
"We will have the chance to face Brazil and correct all the things that went wrong in the first match," Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said.
READ: Brazil survives late Chile onslaught to reach Copa America semifinal
"Brazil continues to be a very powerful team, this Brazil is very good. Our team is also improving." Alex Sandro, Neymar, Éverton Ribeiro and Richarlison scored for Brazil against Peru.
Peru will look to striker Gianluca Lapadula, replacing its all-time top scorer Paolo Guerrero who missed the tournament due to a knee injury.
Brazil will once again count on Neymar, its best player in the tournament so far, who finished the clash against Chile in a state of exhaustion, along with many of his teammates.
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