Rio de Janeiro (AFP)

Brazil has been hot, but Copa America has returned to the host country. Reduced to ten for twenty minutes, Seleçao beat brave Peruvians (3-1) on Sunday at the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

This is the ninth continental trophy of the Seleçao, who has always won this tournament when he organized it (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989 and now 2019).

Hero of the semi-final against Argentina (2-0), with a goal and a decisive pass, Gabriel Jesus put it back, but almost ruined everything by being sent off for a second yellow card (70th).

Against an opponent he had squandered 5-0 in the first round, Brazil has failed to keep his clean sheet, Guerrero having given the Peruvians hope on penalty (44th), after the opening of the score. Everton (15th), on a pass from Jesus, who scored the second Brazilian goal just before the break (45 + 3).

Reduced to ten, the Brazilians took cover late in the game thanks to a penalty converted by Richarlison (90).

Tite's men have suffered against Ricardo Gareca's team, but that did not stop them from flying over the tournament, despite the absence of Neymar, wounded and stuck in a rape case, and a few whistles from the fans in the beginning of competition.

The five-time world champions have finally won a major title after 12 long years of waiting, since the 2007 Copa América.

After a closing ceremony with the Brazilian pop singer Anitta, radical change of musical style: the 70,000 spectators respected a minute of silence in honor of Joao Gilberto, icon of Bossa Nova died Saturday.

- Flamboyant "little onion" -

Peru started the match on the floor, with a very high pressure, giving some cold sweats to Brazilian fans.

To get out of the Peruvian grip, the Seleçao relied on the talent of Everton, who had already martyred the Incas in the first round match.

Thanks to his dribbling, the "Little Onion", as called the Brazilian fans, was at the initiative of the first dangerous incursions in the opposite camp.

And it is he who opened the score, on a luminous action of Gabriel Jesus. Well started by captain Dani Alves, the number 9 mystified Trauco before centering the line for Everton, well placed at the far post to push the ball at the bottom of the nets (15th).

Brazil continued to pass on the sides to create the danger and Coutinho could have increased the score on a center of Firmino if his outside of the right had not passed a few centimeters of the post (23rd).

- Twenty minutes of pressure -

After a complicated start, the Seleçao seemed to control the match, but Peru regained hope when Thiago Silva diverted his arm to a Cueva center in the box. The referee has designated the penalty point, a decision confirmed after using the video assistance at the refereeing.

Paolo Guerrero did not shake. First goal conceded in this Copa by Brazil, who has never won a major tournament by keeping his cages.

Not enough to traumatize the Seleçao, who went off again in the wake.

Firmino recovered a ball in the Peruvian camp from a well-fitting tackle and Arthur found Gabriel Jesus launched full thrust. The cross shot by the Manchester City striker left no chance for goalkeeper Gallese.

Brazilian waves continued to surge after the break, with frank opportunities for Coutinho (5th) and Firmino (8th, 11th).

But Peru did not give up and it took a vigilant Thiago Silva on the set pieces to ward off the danger (20th, 21st).

The situation for the Brazilians was complicated when Jesus received his second yellow card of the match for a foul on Tapia (70th).

Outnumbered, the Seleçao managed to turn their backs and Richarlison, entered a few minutes earlier, released the Maracana on penalty (90th) for a foul Zambrano on Everton.

The next edition will take place next year, in Colombia and Argentina.

? 2019 AFP