Peru's goalkeeper Pedro Gallese reacts after the Group A match between Brazil and Peru at the Copa America 2019, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 22, 2019. Brazil won 5-0. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)
SAO PAULO, Brazil, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazil stormed past Peru 5-0 in the last round of the Group A actions to make the quarterfinals of the Copa America soccer tournament on Saturday.
Casemiro, Roberto Firmino and Everton scored in the first half, and Dani Alves and Willian each struck a spectacular goal in the second.
Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus missed a penalty kick in stoppage time.
After opening with lackluster performance in the first two games, Brazil finally went back on the right track as head coach Tite had Everton and Jesus replace David Neres and Richarlison in the starting lineup.
Brazil finished first in Group A with seven points, two more than second-placed Venezuela, which also advanced after beating Bolivia 3-1 in the other game of the group.
Peru, which had four points to settle for the third place of the group, can still advance but needs to wait for the results of other two groups. The top two in each group and the two best third-place finishers advance to the quarterfinals.
Peru eliminated Brazil with a 1-0 win in the final game of their group in the 2016 Copa America, handing Brazil its first group stage elimination in the tournament since 1987.
An eight-time Copa America champion, Brazil has won the tournament all four previous times it hosted the event, the last time in 1989.
