Brazil reached the Copa America final after a first-half goal from Lucas Paqueta — his second in two games — gave them a 1-0 convert Peru on Monday.
The host nation will play the winner of Tuesday’s other semi-final between Argentina and Colombia within the title decider at the Maracana stadium on Saturday.
Brazil has won the Copa America whenever they hosted the tournament and within the early part of Monday’s match showed exactly why their favourites to try to do so again.
Within the primary 20 minutes, Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made two point-blank saves in succession from Neymar and Richarlison plus another two blocks when Casemiro tried his luck from further out.
With Paqueta, who scored the winner in their 1-0 quarter-final convert Chile, a standout in midfield, Brazil played some intricate, audacious football, replete with flicks, nutmegs, and backheels but it took them 35 minutes to interrupt the deadlock.
Neymar beat three men on the left and clipped the ball across the goal for Paqueta to volley home from 10 meters.
“It was a really tough game, very hard-fought,” Paqueta said.
“They are a really strong side but we managed to form it through a difficult spell.”
Neymar was quick to sing his teammate’s praises and said there was more to return.
“Paqueta may be a great player, he’s recuperating with each game,” he added. “He had an excellent season together with his club and here he’s showing that he is often a really important player for Brazil.”
While Brazil was within the ascendancy within the opening period it had been a special story within the last half because the introduction of Marcos Lopez and Raziel Garcia at the break shook Peru awake.
Losing finalists in 2019, Peru pushed forward in search of an equalizer with Gianluca Lapadula forcing Ederson into a key block, with the Brazil goalkeeper looking uneasy on a few other occasions.
Peru pinned Brazil back for long spells of the last half but couldn’t make their possession count because the home side extended their unbeaten run to 13 games.
