Peru 0-5 Brazil: Hosts thump Peru to reach quarters

2019 Copa America hosts Brazil thrashed Peru 5-0 in their final group stage game to book their place into the quarter-finals as Group A winners.

Brazil had been booed off by their home support following their 0-0 draw against Venezuela on Tuesday, but produced an emphatic win to restore the nation’s confidence.

Real Madrid’s Casemiro bundled in the opener after 12 minutes before Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese’s clearance ricocheted off Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino’s back and hit the post before he slotted into an empty net for Brazil’s second goal seven minutes later.

Everton made it 3-0 with a long-range strike that caught the Peruvian goalkeeper out at his near post after half hour.

Right-back Dani Alves finished off a sublime one-touch passing move early in the second after before Chelsea’s Willian scored an excellent curling strike to make it 5-0 late on.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus was denied a first goal of the Copa America when Gallese saved his penalty in the third minute of stoppage time.

Brazil will face one of the best third-placed countries from Group B or C in the quarter-finals but Peru must wait to see whether they are through to the final eight after picking up four points from three games to finish third in the group.