Lucas Paquetá was on target as Brazil beat Paraguay 4-1 in their second 2024 Copa América Group D tie in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The West Ham United midfielder scored from the penalty spot on 65 minutes, having missed an earlier spot-kick before half-time at Allegiant Stadium.
With the game still goalless, Paquetá won the first penalty himself when his left-foot shot was handled by Andrés Cubas, only to then send the resulting spot-kick wide of the right-hand post on 31 minutes.
However, the Hammers star was undeterred and set up Brazil’s opening goal just four minutes later when his first-time pass was taken and finished by Vinicius Junior.
Bruno Guimarães then rattled the crossbar moments before Rodrygo’s shot was parried into the path of Girona youngster Sávio, who converted his first international goal from close range to make it 2-0 before half-time.
And it was 3-0 in added time when Paquetá’s pass sent Rodrygo away and his Real Madrid teammate Vinicius followed up to block Omar Alderete’s attempted clearance into the net.
Getafe defender Alderete made amends with a thumping left-foot strike from 30 yards that flew past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson to pull one goal back just after the break.
Paraguay briefly threatened a comeback as Alisson made an acrobatic save to deny Brighton & Hove Albion’s Julio Enciso, but Brazil would not be denied their first win of the tournament.
Rodrygo saw a long-range effort pushed aside by goalkeeper Rodrigo Morínigo, before Brazil were awarded a second penalty for handball, this time against midfielder Mathías Villasanti.
Paquetá stepped up and this time side-footed his shot comfortably inside the right-hand post to score his eleventh goal for his country, on his 48th cap.
Elsewhere in the second round of Group D fixtures, Colombia made it two wins from two with a dominant 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Glendale, Arizona.
Brazil will top Group D if they beat Colombia in the third and final round of ties at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Tuesday 2 July at 6pm local time (2am BST on Wednesday 3 July). A draw would be enough to see them progress in second place.
The 2024 Copa América final will take place in Miami, Florida, on Sunday 14 July.
