SAO PAULO: With Neymar watching from afar, it was Philippe Coutinho who came through for Brazil in the Copa America opener.

With two quick goals after the team was jeered by the local crowd at half-time, Coutinho helped Brazil overcome the absence of the injured Neymar in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Bolivia on Friday.

Coutinho converted a penalty kick awarded by video review in the 50th minute and headed in a cross by Roberto Firmino in the 53rd, helping the hosts overcome a lackluster first half that prompted the loud jeers at the Morumbi Stadium.

“Sometimes it’s normal for the fans to jeer, they want us to play well and win,” Coutinho said. “It was a difficult match, like it always is in the opener. It was important to get this first win.” Substitute Everton also scored in the second half to help appease the fans at the Morumbi, keeping Brazil on track for their first South American title since 2007.

The build-up to the competition had been dominated by Neymar’s woes, firstly when he was accused of rape by a Brazilian model, and then when he damaged ankle ligaments in a friendly last week, forcing him out of the Copa.

If Brazil’s first half performance was anything to go by, the Paris St Germain star was sorely missed, but Coutinho’s brace at least silenced the jeers.

It didn’t take long for Brazil to get the crowd back on board in the second half, with Coutinho opening the scoring from the penalty spot after video review determined a handball by Bolivia defender Adrian Jusino.

The midfielder quickly added the second minutes later with a close-range header after Firmino’s well-placed cross.

Everton, who replaced Young Ajax forward David Neres, scored the third goal with a right-footed shot from outside the area after clearing a couple of defenders.“We started well but as the time passed and we didn’t score the team got a bit too anxious,” Brazil coach Tite said. “In the second half we were able to impose our game.”

Eight-time Copa America champions, Brazil have won the tournament all four previous times they have hosted the event, the last time in 1989.

Brazil were wearing a white jersey in honor of the 100th anniversary of the team’s first South American title in 1919.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2019