Lucas Paquetá entered the break and took a minute to make a fantasy move to give Brazil an advantage that he was able to defend only on Friday, thus beating Chile 1-0 and reaching the semifinals of the Copa América.
Paquetá came in for Roberto Firmino and scored with a right hand after the play that included terrific first-class passes from three Brazilian players, including Neymar. The attacker from Lyon entered the area and defined with a right hand in front of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the 46th minute.
But the process of the match was complicated for Brazil from 48, when the Argentine referee Patricio Loustau showed the direct red to Gabriel Jesús, for a kick typical of the martial arts on the face of the side Eugenio Mena.
The Seleção resisted, and will play the semifinal on Monday, also at the Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro. The rival will be Peru, which in the afternoon eliminated Paraguay through penalties.
Brazil, who led Group B undefeated, arrived at the event as a wide favorite against Red, which slipped only fourth to A.
However, it was Chile that gave the first scare. Eduardo Vargas appeared alone in front of goalkeeper Ederson but sent the ball over the goal. The option was invalidated for offside.
Brazil then had three approaches. Danilo finished just above the door, and Gabriel Jesus sent a cross that Neymar finished off in the first post, just in front of Bravo, who managed to cover the shot. At 43, the Manchester City striker himself shook off the mark of a rival and finished for the goalkeeper to deflect a corner kick.
Alexis Sánchez started for the Chilean national team after a calf muscle injury that left him out of the group stage. Far from his best physical condition, the Inter Milan winger was unable to influence the match and he was replaced at halftime by Ben Brereton.
The other substitution made at halftime was the one that paid off for Brazil.
From the right wing, Renán Lodi sent a delayed pass, which Fred extended to the balcony of the area. Then came first-rate followed passes by Casemiro, Paquetá and Neymar. Sebastián Vegas managed to touch the ball with a booty, but only managed to overtake it so that Paquetá executed Bravo.
The numerical inferiority forced Brazil to retreat somewhat. Chile seemed to equalize at 59 with a shot from Vargas after Erick Pulgar's center, but the action was invalidated by a millimeter offside, endorsed by video refereeing (VAR).
Brereton's header hit the crossbar in the 68th minute, and Jean Meneses delivered a powerful shot after grabbing a rebound. Ederson barely deflected to corner.
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