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SAO PAULO: Philippe Coutinho scored a double in the second half and Everton added a third place as Brazil recovered from a sleepy start to beat Bolivia 3-0 in their first match of the Copa America Friday.
Both teams were mediocre in the first period, but the match briefly animated five minutes into the second period when Coutinho managed to get a penalty assisted by VAR.
Coutinho grabbed a second with a close-up header three minutes later, and Everton took a third goal off the box five minutes from time.
"In the end, with a little patience, we opened the way, we had more ball and we created plays," said captain Daniel Alves to reporters. "We deserved a great victory."
The match was the first of this year's tournament, which takes place in Brazil for the first time since 1989. The 10 South American teams compete with the invited nations, Qatar and Japan.
Brazil, who played alongside Roberto Firmino in front and Fernandinho in midfield instead of the wounded Arthur, failed to inspire the strangely-tempered crowd of only 46,342 at the weekend. Morumbi stadium of Sao Paulo.
Dressed in white shirts for the first time in over 60 years, the local team has suffered but rarely threatened. Even after taking the mark to 2-0, she was lacking ideas and urgency.
Bolivia, who had won the title for the last time in 1963, rarely threatened the other side of the world after a brilliant debut.
"Tactically, Bolivia played well in the first half, the players responded well and when we got the ball, we tried to make progress on a few important occasions and that left us positive," said the coach. Bolivia, Eduardo Villegas.
"But it was a match for two, we have to be honest and realistic, Brazil beat us and they beat us well."
Peru face Venezuela in Porto Alegre on Saturday in the second game of Group A.
The next match of Brazil will take place Tuesday in Salvador against Venezuela in Salvador.
(Report by Andrew Downie, edited by Nick Mulvenney and Sudipto Ganguly)
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