Thiago Silva was Brazil captain and helped keep a clean sheet as his nation defeated Peru 1-0 in their Copa America semi-final held in Brasilia.As in the quarter-final against Chile, the goal was scored by Lucas Paqueta who plays his club football in France at Lyon. It came towards the end of a first half in which Peru’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese had been the main obstacle between the host nation and an earlier lead.Richarlison had taken the ball past him in the opening minutes but could not capitalise from a tight angle. Gallese then made a series of quality saves from Casemiro, Neymar and Richarlison but then with 34 minutes played, Neymar skilfully created the chance for Paqueta’s goal. Brazil’s seven shots on goal is the most in the first half of any game in the tournament.

Having gone behind, Peru were more dangerous in the second half and Ederson was called into action to save twice while another effort went just wide. Later in the game, Brazil, who were reduced to one on-target attempt in the second half, did not take a couple of opportunities to extend the lead but Thiago Silva and his team-mates were able see out a consecutive single-goal victory and have conceded just two goals in the tournament.

The Chelsea man was in the side that won the last Copa America in 2019 and Brazil will aim to lift the trophy for a 10th time when they play the final in the Maracana on Saturday. The second semi-final is between Argentina and Colombia.