SAO PAULO: The Copa America has finally started for hosts Brazil.

After two lackluster performances that drew jeers from the home fans and added pressure on coach Tite, Brazil got it going on Saturday in thrashing Peru 5-0 to make the quarterfinals.

Brazil finished first in Group ‘A’ with seven points, two more than second-placed Venezuela, who also advanced after beating Bolivia 3-1 in Belo Horizonte.

Casemiro, Roberto Firmino and Everton scored in the first half, and Dani Alves and Willian in the second to keep the hosts on track for their first Copa title since 2007.

“The team played a great match,” Tite said. “We created the chances and this time we were precise in front of the goal. We were more efficient.”

Peru stayed with four points but can still advance as one of the two best third-place finishers in all three groups.

After a corner kick taken by Philippe Coutinho in the 12th minute, Thiago Silva deflected the ball toward the goalmouth and it hit the far post before Casemiro came in to find the net with a header from close range.

Brazil added to the lead seven minutes later after a blunder by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, whose pass from the area was blocked by Firmino in front of the goal. The ball ricocheted off the striker, going over Gallese and hitting the post. Firmino was by himself to pick up the rebound, controlling the ball with his chest before clearing Gallese and finding the open net.

The third goal came in the 32nd with Everton, who cleared two defenders by cutting back toward the middle before firing a low shot by the near post.

Alves got his goal early in the second half from inside the area after a pass by Firmino, and Willian closed the scoring with a shot from outside the box.. A few minutes later, Gabriel Jesus had his shot from the penalty spot saved by Gallese.

“It’s a result that hurts a lot,” Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said. “There is not much to analsze right now. They were better than us, they won easily.”

Venezuela advance

A brace by Darwin Machis and a goal by Josef Martinez helped Venezuela advance to the Copa quarter-finals.

Venezuela scored after only two minutes, when Machis headed a cross from Ronald Hernandez from the right.

The Vinotinto added a second in the 55th, Machis scoring from the edge of the box.

Leonel Justiniano reduced Bolivia’s deficit in the 82nd, but Josef Martinez, who substituted Machis shortly before, secured the Venezuelan victory four minutes later with a header after a cross by Yeferson Soteldo.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2019