Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live text coverage of the
Copa America group-stage clash between
Peru and
Brazil at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.
The tournament hosts have been booed during both matches so far and still have some work to do if they are to claim top spot in Group A.
After scoring three second-half goals to overcome Bolivia in their opener, the Selecao played out a goalless draw with Venezuela to leave them level on points with opponents Peru in second.
PERU TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Gallese; Advincula, Araujo, Abram, Trauco; Tapia; Polo, Cueva, Yotun, Farfan; Guerrero.
SUBS: Carrillo, Ruidiaz, Alvarez, Zambrano, Ballon, Callens, Flores, Gonzales, Santamaria, Pretell, Corzo, Caceda
BRAZIL TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Alisson; Alves, Marquinhos, Silva, Luis; Arthur, Casemiro; Jesus, Coutinho, Everton; Firmino
SUBS: Miranda, Fagner, Eder Militao, Cassio, Richarlison, Ederson, Allan, Neres, Willian, Sandro, Paqueta
KICKOFF: Brazil show two changes from their disappointing stalemate with Venezuela as Jesus and Everton are brought into the misfiring attack in place of Richarlison and Neres. Zambrano is replaced by Araujo in Peru's only alteration from their 3-1 comeback victory against Bolivia. The visiting nation get us up and running!
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GROUP A UPDATE! Darwin Machis has given Venezuela the lead against Bolivia inside two minutes in the other Group A match taking place this evening. That is a big goal as it means the top three are now all on five points apiece - it does not get any tighter than that!
Farfan is fouled by Marquinhos, giving Peru a chance to get the ball into the box from the wide free-kick. It is whipped in with real menace and Alisson is relieved to see it drop wide of his far post - that is a real scare for Brazil.
Peru have started this game well. Brazil are committing a number of fouls in their own half of the field and have barely managed to get the ball forward. If the visitors score, the tournament hosts will drop down to third in Group A.
Cueva, famous for his short fuse, is furious after being caught by Alves' foot. The Brazil skipper will say he did not mean to catch his opponent but that did not look great on the replays. Tite's men need to keep their foot on the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Avicula has a go from range but only succeeds in picking out the stands. Casemiro clatters into Farfan and is shown the game's first yellow card - not ideal for a defensive midfielder in a match that clearly has an edge to it.
Alves goes on a good run through the middle and tries to thread the ball through for a teammate. There is a bit of confusion at the back and the ball goes behind for a corner.
GOAL! PERU 0-1 BRAZIL (CASEMIRO)
They have started slowly but Brazil have the lead in Sao Paulo! From their first corner of the match, the ball is aimed towards the back post and Marquinhos heads it against the frame of the goal. It then ricochets into the air and Casemiro helps it over the line from under the crossbar.
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YELLOW CARD! That was a sloppy goal for Peru to concede, to say the least - especially given the manner in which they gave away the corner. Yotun chops down Arthur, catching his opponent high up the leg, and is shown the game's second booking.
Brazil's latest set-piece delivery again causes some panic in the Peru box. The visitors are definitely missing the presence of Zambrano at the back today. Still, Bacchi's side started the game well and cannot afford to drop their heads.
GOAL! PERU 0-2 BRAZIL (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
Peru are looking incredible shaky at the back and it tells as Brazil score a simple second. Gallese's clearance is closed down by Firmino and the ball hits the frame of the goal. Firmino latches onto the rebound, though, and he keeps his composure to knock the ball past Gallese and roll it into an empty net.
The visitors have imploded. Everton is growing into the match and Brazil look as though they could score four or five at this rate. Incredibly, Tite's men have not even really managed to get out of second gear.
Brazil have done well to take the sting out of the match. As things stand they are going through to the quarter-finals as Group A winners. Peru, meanwhile, are now in third and sweating on their place in the next round.
Casemiro fouls Cueva and Peru have a free kick in a dangerous position, around 25 yards out. After plenty of pushing in the box the set piece is eventually taken by Guerrero, who lifts the ball over the wall but wide of the target.
Tempers are beginning to flare but Brazil need to keep their cool - they are in complete control of this match. Peru have seen plenty of the ball over the last few minutes and are the side on top, but they are struggling to create anything.
Cueva carries the ball into the box but his shot is blocked by Marquinhos. If Peru find a way through then this game will take off. For now, though, Brazil are looking fairly comfortable when in possession, knowing they do not have to force a third goal.
GOAL! PERU 0-3 BRAZIL (EVERTON)
It is far to say that Brazil finally have lift-off at the 2019 Copa America! Everton, who has forced his way into the side with some good performances from the bench, cuts inside from the left and picks out the bottom corner from 25 yards. Questions need to be asked of Gallese as he was beaten at his near post.
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There are "Oles!" ringing around Corinthians Arena now as Brazil find their groove - it has been a long time coming! Peru actually started the game pretty well, remember, but they have completely crumbled at the back since then.
SHOT! Casemiro, on a high after scoring his first goal for the Brazil nations side, climbs highest to meet the corner but cannot keep his effort down. The ball is then played into the path of Jesus, who has time and space to shoot but curls it wide of the target.
It is looking as though this is going to be game over before half time. Brazil lead by three goals and are looking very comfortable. Peru have had a couple of attempts, but one of those was off target from a free kick and the other was blocked by Marquinhos.
Peru are not pressing their opponents when they are on the ball. Everton carries the ball forward but arguably overdoes it - can you blame him after the tournament he is having?! - and the chance goes begging. The visitors could do with half time.
Tite will be delighted with his side's firs-half performance. This is one match that the players in yellow and blue will avoid boos. Half time is now just a couple of minutes away, as Peru enjoy a spell on the ball.
SAVE! Trauco tries to catch out Alisson at his near post, like Everton did with Gallese at the other end, but the save is made. Peru are enjoying a strong spell as we enter the final seconds of the half, but Brazil are standing firm for now.
HALF TIME: PERU 0-3 BRAZIL
Brazil take a commanding 3-0 lead into half time thanks to goals from Casemiro, Firmino and Everton. Peru started the game well but they imploded at the back with 12 minutes gone and the Selecao have taken advantage.
Following a slow start to the match, Brazil opened the scoring through their first corner as Marquinhos headed the ball against the frame of the goal and Casemiro helped it over the line from a yard out.
Brazil's second followed seven minutes later as Roberto Firmino charged down Pedro Gallese's attempted clearance and latched onto the rebound after it came back off the post, leaving the Liverpool forward with the task of rounding the keeper and slotting the ball into an empty net.
Peru, and particularly goalkeeper Gallese, imploded as Everton - who forced his way into the starting lineup after a couple of promising displays from the bench - cut inside from the left and picked out the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Miguel Trauco was kept out by Alisson Becker from a tight angle at the end of the first half and Gabriel Jesus, the quietest of Brazil's attacking players, curled wide from inside the box.
BENCH WATCH!
PERU SUBS: Carrillo, Ruidiaz, Alvarez, Zambrano, Ballon, Callens, Flores, Gonzales, Santamaria, Pretell, Corzo, Caceda
BRAZIL SUBS: Miranda, Fagner, Eder Militao, Cassio, Richarlison, Ederson, Allan, Neres, Willian, Sandro, Paqueta
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KICKOFF: Brazil, on the verge of a place in the last eight as Group A winners, get the second half up and running in Sao Paulo. There is news of a half-time change as Flores replace Yotun, who picked up a yellow in the first half.
PENALTY APPEAL! Everton has done Advincula for pace - not for the first time today - and the Brazilian forward is seemingly taken down inside the box by his opponents. The referee does not think so, though, and there will be no VAR check, either.
Gremio forward Everton is having a stormer for Brazil. He charges through the Peru defence and so nearly rounds Gallese, but he runs out of space. The visitors look far more likely to concede a fourth goal than they do to score a first.
There has been no change to the Group A standings since the 12th minute of this match when Brazil edged in front. They are sitting top of the table and Venezuela will go through in second. Peru could still advance as one of the best third-placed sides.
Jesus manages to stay onside but his power lacks any real power and it trickles towards Gallese. From the next attacking move, Firmino's cross was tipped over the bar but the offside flag eventually went up.
GOAL! PERU 0-4 BRAZIL (DANI ALVES)
Alves kills off Peru for good with a superb goal. The Brazil skipper carried the ball forward and played a couple of one-twos with Arthur and then Firmino, before thumping it past Gallese in the Peru goal.
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PERU SUB! Guerrero, who played a massive part against Bolivia earlier this week with a goal and an assist, is withdrawn. Gonzales is on in his place with around half an hour to play at Corinthians Arena.
BRAZIL SUB! Sandro is on for Luis in a like-for-like change at full-back. Tite can now afford to rest some key players with the quarter-finals in mind. The mood around the camp will be far better after this impressive win.
Incidentally, Venezuela doubled their lead against Bolivia in the other Group A match moments before Brazil scored a fourth, so they will join the Selecao in the last eight.
SAVE! Firmino shows some good footwork in the box and is then denied down low by Gallese. From the next attacking wave, Everton creates some space for himself but his deflected shot goes behind for a corner kick.
SHOT! Arthur is the latest player to get a shot away, sending his attempt a good couple of yards over the bar. That all came about as a result of Peru once again failing to deal with a corner. The visitors can have no complaints if they crash out tonight.
The game has gone rather flat all of a sudden. That is no surprise really because Brazil are well out of sight with 23 minutes still to play. Peru have four points from their three matches, and that could still be enough to see them through.
PERU SUB! Cueva, who has look wound up all evening, is replaced by Ballon. That is a smart change by Bacchi because his side could yet join Brazil and Venezuela in the last eight. Brazil are up to 66% in terms of possession.
A couple of dangerous Brazil attacks down the right come to little as Peru cut out the ball on both occasions. Peru try to counter but substitute full-back Sandro makes a good challenge towards the touchline to bring the attack to an end. Casemiro makes way for Allan.
Jesus shows good trickery down the right but, again, there is no way through on this occasion. Brazil are simply toying with their opponents now. There is definitely another goal in this match for the home side if they continue in this manner.
Brazil forward Jesus has showed the odd glimpse of what he is capable of today but he has not been all that effective out wide - Richarlison or Neres may well come in for the quarter-finals. The Selecao are starting to go through the motions now.
BRAZIL SUB! Willian, called up to the Brazil squad late on to replace Neymar, is brought on in place of Coutinho for the closing stages. Tite's side have 13 minutes to see out at the Corinthians Arena, which is generating a great atmosphere.
YELLOW CARD! Silva leads with his elbow when going up against Tapia and is shown a yellow card by the referee. Elsewhere in Group A, Leonel Justiniano has pulled one back against Venezuela to make it 2-1 - that one is not over just yet after all!
YELLOW CARD! Advincula's frustration shows as he scythes down Everton, who has been brilliant in his three games at this tournament. The Gremio forward is down, though, and his evening - maybe even his tournament - may be cut short.
Everton looks as though he will be OK to carry on. The free kick is eventually swung in from the left and Peru, despite some hesitancy from Gallese, manage to get away with it. There are around seven minutes left to play in Sao Paulo.
Joseph Martinez has put Venezuela 3-1 up against Bolivia, so that one is all over. In Sao Paulo, there is not a great deal happening. Brazil are knocking the ball around but they do not look all that bothered about scoring a fifth goal.
Sandro's shot from distance takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner, which comes to little. Brazil have had 16 shots this evening - eight in the first half and eight in the second. They are cruising towards their second win of the tournament.
GOAL! PERU 0-5 BRAZIL (WILLIAN)
A trademark curler from Willian caps the scoring for Brazil, who have looked very good tonight. The substitute forward cut inside from the left and picked out the far corner of the net from 20 yards. What a goal!
PENALTY! Gallese fouls Jesus in the box and the Selecao will have a chance to make it 6-0 in added time. The forward tried to round the keeper but was wiped out - there can be few complaints.
SAVE! GALLESE SAVES THE PEN! Jesus is unable to find a way through from the penalty spot as Gallese guesses the right way to his right. It remains 5-0 with a minute or so left.
FULL TIME: PERU 0-5 BRAZIL
Copa America hosts Brazil have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with a 3-0 win over Peru.
The Selecao needed victory to make certain of top spot and they were three goals up at half time thanks to Casemiro, Firmino and Everton.
Alves and Willian also found a way through in the second half, before Jesus missed a penalty that he had won.
That concludes
Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Sao Paulo. An on-the-whistle report can be found by
clicking here, and be sure to join us again at the same time tomorrow for updates from Argentina's final group match. See you then!