Brazil vs Peru summary: score, goals, highlights, Copa America

The final whistle sounds in Rio and Tite's men advance to the final where the Seleçâo will face Argentina or Colombia. A solitary strike from Paqueta was enough to secure the win and despite a spirited second half display from Peru, it's Brazil who march on to the Maracana and look to defend their Copa America crown.

Brazil look to find a second as Peru panic. Time now as good as up for Brazil as Thiago Silva is clipped and Brazil win a free kick.

Brazil now just minutes away from Saturday's final at the Maracana. The winners of Argentina-Colombia await ....

Luiz is set to replace the injured Paqueta.

We'll have five minutes of time added on. Five minutes for Peru to salvage their Copa America activity.

Another card and this time it's for Lopez for a two footed challenge

Vnicius is carded for a clumsy challenge on Lora.

Vnicius is carded for a clumsy challenge on Lora.

It's been a solid second half performance from Peru and a stark contracts to the submissive first 45 where Gareca's men were totally outclassed.

5 minutes left for Peru to score an equaliser and force the game to penalty kicks

Militao, Fabinho and Vini Jr set to come on for Brazil....Richarlison, Fred and Lodi make way for the trio.

Neymar has spent considerable minutes of tonight's game in this position.

Great chance as Peru see the ball drift wide with Ederson beaten from the resulting free.

Yotun does well to earn a freekick for his side as Cueva is replaced by Ormeño

Into the final ten minutes in Rio and one senses that Brazil will be able to ride this one out as Peru refuse to throw in the towel.

Neymar is on the floor again after being bundled out by the men in red and white. Danger here for Gareca's men as Gallese organises his wall

15' remain in Rio and one senses that Peru need to strike quickly as Corzo is replaced by Lora Saavedra,

Peru still press and will feel they are still involved in this contest whilst it remans 1-0

Exquisite pass from Neymar as he finds Richarlison and the Everton striker seems to have been shoved off the ball by Corzo. No spot kick as the game continues.

It's the Everton switch as the Ribeiro variety comes on for the Benfica man.

Neymar is on the ground and needs medical attention after a rash challenge from Santamaria.

Everton Ribeiro is the man set to make an appearance for Brazil.

Brazil set to make their first change with a handful of players warming up.

The ball breaks to Neymar and the PSG striker opts to shoot rather than control. The ball drifts high and wide.

Should the game be tied at the end of 90 minutes, there will be no extra time but the game would then be resolved from the penalty spot.

Lopez strikes and Ederson saves. Hint of offside as Peru once again show us what they can do with the men in red and white dominating the second half.

Approaching the hour mark and this is so much better from Peru who were a soft touch in the first 45 minutes.

First card of the night goes to Peru's Yotun as he clips Richarlison in free flow.

Lapadula falls awkwardly on his ankle but appears okay to continue. The pitch at the home of Botafogo is cutting up badly and indeed drew comments from Brazil boss Tite to switch the match to another venue.

Garcia this time has a long range effort but drives the ball wide of the post. Much better from the Peru side now as they take the game to Brazil with a sense of belief that was totally absent in the first 45'.

That should serve as a source of inspiration for Peru as the carved open the Brazil defense with some accurate and incisive passing.

Great effort from Lapadula as he forces Ederson into action tipping away a left footed effort from the Benevento man.

Peru's first objective is to keep Brazil at bay and ensure that the men in yellow fail to add to their lead. Gareca's men need to offer more of a threat and hope that a dead ball or a flash of genius from the forward line can pull the men in red and white back into the contest.

Changes for Peru at the interval with Garcia and Lopez on for Ramos and Trauco.

Off we go in Rio, Brazil start the half

Ederson looking relaxed and smiling and it's been one of the easiest 45' of football the Man City keeper will have experienced in recent times.

The match officials and both sides return to the pitch ahead of the second 45'

It's been way too easy for the Seleçao with Peru offering a disappointing level of resistance and Ederson yet to be called upon. Pedro Gallese in the opposite goal has been the saviour for Gareca's side and his heroics have been instrumental in keeping the scoreline respectable. 

The whistle sounds to herald the interval. Brazil very much in control here in Rio and Tite's men are 45 minutes away from a place in Saturday's final.

The Lyon player has left the filed and is being analyzed by the Brazil medical team as Lodi heads wide.

Problem's for Tite as Paqueta goes to ground and seems to have picked up a knock.

Fine spell of possession from Peru but the ball eventually goes behind for a goal kick.

We'll have five minutes of added time.

Peru slip up and give the ball to Neymar but the PSG striker fails to take advantage of the gift. Peru's Peña did receive a rather unpleasant kick from Neymar.

Will the goal give Peru a jolt and force Gareca to employ a more offensive approach to the contest?

It has to be said that that goal was very much on the cards. Brazil have been in control from the whistle and could have been three or four ahead had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Peru stopper Pedro Gallese.

Peru now being sloppy and wasting some decent opportunities to retain possession with some loose passing.

Another shot from Brazil and another save from Gallese.

Peru's objective is to keep the men in yellow at bay and reach the interval with a 0-0 scoreline.

We reach the 30 minute mark and it's very much one-way traffic here in Rio as Brazil are knocking on the door and in total control of the tie. The opening goal is the only ingredient lacking for the Seleçâo.

Referee Tobar waves his head and takes the ball to the half way line and Brazil take possession again. Another let-off for Gareca's men who are alive in this game thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of Pedro Gallese.

Brazil go close once again and Ricarlison breaks as Gallese commits. Neymar goes to ground and appeals for a spot kick from the Ramos challenge. VAR to be consulted?

The game taking a predicted course as they totally dominate possession with nothing such as a shot on target being offered from the men in red and white.

The Orlando City keeper has recovered and we're back in action in Rio.

Brazil really knocking on the door now as play is held up as Gallese gets attention after his goalkeeping heroics.

Gallese on hand to deny Brazil, not one, not two, but three times with some fine point blank saves from the veteran keeper.

Peru seem to have weathered the early storm but have really yet to make any in-roads into the Brazil half with Ederson a virtual spectaator.

...and the Blanquirroja side pre-game

The Brazil team lining up ahead of tonight's match

Both Neymar and Richarlison have been on the bleach again with both strikers donning a blonde mop top. Decent shot from Everton but the striker's effort is straight at Gallese.

Four in the wall for Peru as Casemiro drives the ball and at the second time of asking, Peru stopper Gallese gathers.

Dangerous free for Brazil as Neymar is upended just outside the Peru box. Ramos the culprit.

Brazil almost open the scoring as Richarlison breaks into the area and pulls the ball back for Neymar who blazes over.

Message of support from Everton for Richarlison

Brazil now on top as the press the Peru side deep inside their own half and win the first corner of the night.

Bright start from Peru as they immediately go on the attack through Lapadula who plays his club football with Benevento in Italy.

Peru get us underway this evening in their iconic all white kit with red sash on the shirts. Brazil too in their classic yellow and blue.

A moments silence will be held pre-game to remember the covid victims across the continent.

So, can Peru deliver a major upset and eliminate the strongly fancied Brazil side? This is a repeat of the 2019 Copa America final with the Seleçâo going on to win.

The teams take to the field and both teams line up for the national anthems.

A reminder that the winners of tonight's game will advance to the final where they will face the victor of tomorrow's second semi-final between Argentina and Colombia.

Something strange again to witness games being played behind closed doors after seeing fans back in attendance at Euro 2020

The stands of the Nilton Santos stadium will once again lie empty as Brazil still struggle to get to grips with the covid pandemic.

Peru will look to attacking duo Lapadula and Christian Cueva tonight with the 29-year-old striker currently playing his club football with Saudi outfit Al Fateh.

Brazil star striker Neymar warming up as kick-off looms

Tonight's match official is Chilean Roberto Tobar with Derlis Lopez in the VAR booth.

This is Peru manager Ricardo Gareca’s tenth game in charge of Peru against Brazil (2 wins, 8 losses).

Brazil survived losing Gabriel Jesus to a red card early in the second half to defeat Chile 1-0 in a thrilling Copa America tie last Friday which saw Tite's men move into tonight's semi-final against Peru.

After an even and goalless first 45 minutes, the match sparked into life within seconds of the restart, when substitute Lucas Paqueta worked a scrappy one-two with Neymar and then held off Gary Medel to fire home from close range.

However, the outlook changed less than two minutes later. Brazil were reduced to 10 men after Gabriel Jesus was shown a straight red for a horrific kung-fu kick that sent Eugenio Mena tumbling.

Brazil are unused to being under pressure, especially at home, but Chile forced them onto the back foot for large parts of the second half as they poured forward in search of an equaliser.

Peru needed penalty kicks to advance to the semi-final in dramatic fashion on Friday by beating Paraguay 4-3 on penalties after the two sides drew 3-3 over 90 minutes in an action-packed encounter in Goiania.

David Martinez, Braian Samudio, and Alberto Espinola all missed in the shoot-out for Paraguay, but Miguel Trauco guaranteed Peru a spot in the semi-finals for the second Copa in a row after Santiago Ormeno and Christian Cueva had their kicks saved.

Tonight's clash in Rio will be the twentieth time Brazil have met Peru in the Copa America (15 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses). One of the Peruvian wins came in the 1975 Copa America and was the last time Brazil lost at home in the competition (3-1).

Both Brazil and Peru met in the group stage of the competition with the local side romping to a 4-0 win with goals for Brazil coming from Alex Sandro, Neymar, Everton Ribeiro and Richarlison.

Going into tonight's game, the Seleção have now gone 12 games in all competitions without defeat, keeping a clean sheet in nine of those, while Tite is yet to lose a match in this competition while in charge of the Brazilian national side.

The Peru side has also been announced:

The Brazil team has just been confirmed:

Rio's Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos is the setting for tonight's action with kick-off at 8pm (local time) or 7pm (ET) / 01:00 CEST.

Hello and a warm welcome to our live coverage of the first Copa America semi-final as hosts Brazil face Peru.