<p>Brazil reached the Copa America final after a first-half goal from Lucas Paqueta — his second in two games — gave them a 1-0 win over Peru on Monday.</p>.<p>The host nation will play the winner of Tuesday's other semi-final between Argentina and Colombia in the title decider at the Maracana stadium on Saturday.</p>.<p>Brazil have won the Copa America every time they hosted the tournament and in the early part of Monday's match showed exactly why they are favourites to do so again.</p>.<p>Within the first 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.</p>.<p>With Paqueta, who scored the winner in their 1-0 quarter-final win over Chile, a standout in midfield, Brazil played some intricate, audacious football, replete with flicks, nutmegs and backheels but it took them 35 minutes to break the deadlock.</p>.<p>Neymar beat three men on the left and clipped the ball across goal for Paqueta to volley home from 10 metres.</p>.<p>"It was a very tough game, very hard fought,” Paqueta said.</p>.<p>"They are a very strong side but we managed to make it through a difficult spell."</p>.<p>Neymar was quick to sing his teammate's praises and said there was more to come.</p>.<p>"Paqueta is a great player, he’s getting better with each game,” he added. “He had a great season with his club and here he is showing that he can be a very important player for Brazil."</p>.<p>While Brazil were in the ascendancy in the opening period it was a different story in the second half as the introduction of Marcos Lopez and Raziel Garcia at the break shook Peru awake.</p>.<p>Losing finalists in 2019, Peru pushed forward in search of an equaliser with Gianluca Lapadula forcing Ederson into a key block, with the Brazil goalkeeper looking uneasy on a couple of other occasions.</p>.<p>Peru pinned Brazil back for long spells of the second half but could not make their possession count as the home side extended their unbeaten run to 13 games.</p>
<p>Brazil reached the Copa America final after a first-half goal from Lucas Paqueta — his second in two games — gave them a 1-0 win over Peru on Monday.</p>.<p>The host nation will play the winner of Tuesday's other semi-final between Argentina and Colombia in the title decider at the Maracana stadium on Saturday.</p>.<p>Brazil have won the Copa America every time they hosted the tournament and in the early part of Monday's match showed exactly why they are favourites to do so again.</p>.<p>Within the first 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.</p>.<p>With Paqueta, who scored the winner in their 1-0 quarter-final win over Chile, a standout in midfield, Brazil played some intricate, audacious football, replete with flicks, nutmegs and backheels but it took them 35 minutes to break the deadlock.</p>.<p>Neymar beat three men on the left and clipped the ball across goal for Paqueta to volley home from 10 metres.</p>.<p>"It was a very tough game, very hard fought,” Paqueta said.</p>.<p>"They are a very strong side but we managed to make it through a difficult spell."</p>.<p>Neymar was quick to sing his teammate's praises and said there was more to come.</p>.<p>"Paqueta is a great player, he’s getting better with each game,” he added. “He had a great season with his club and here he is showing that he can be a very important player for Brazil."</p>.<p>While Brazil were in the ascendancy in the opening period it was a different story in the second half as the introduction of Marcos Lopez and Raziel Garcia at the break shook Peru awake.</p>.<p>Losing finalists in 2019, Peru pushed forward in search of an equaliser with Gianluca Lapadula forcing Ederson into a key block, with the Brazil goalkeeper looking uneasy on a couple of other occasions.</p>.<p>Peru pinned Brazil back for long spells of the second half but could not make their possession count as the home side extended their unbeaten run to 13 games.</p>