Brazil 1-0 Chile: 5 hits and flops as supersub Lucas Paqueta sets up semi-final clash with Peru | Copa America 2021

Hit: Lucas Paqueta (Brazil)

Paqueta made a huge impact off the bench

While he wasn't the best player in the match per se, Lucas Paqueta deserves credit for making an instant impact off the bench by clinically taking his chance which proved enough to sneak Brazil into the next round.

Lucas Paqueta comes off the bench to put Brazil ahead less than 1 minute into the second half!🇧🇷(📽️ @FOXSoccer ) pic.twitter.com/L7LgexPrK3

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) July 3, 2021

Coming on at half-time for the ineffective Roberto Firmino, the Lyon star cut the Reds open following a neat one-two with Neymar and intercepted a poor clearance from Mena to race in behind and slot home beyond Claudio Bravo for an unlikely match-winner.

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Flop: Roberto Firmino (Brazil)

Firmino lasted just 45 minutes in the match

It's no secret that Roberto Firmino has had a tough Copa America campaign so far. Aside from his goal against Colombia, the Liverpool ace had little to show for his efforts and endured another poor outing against Chile before getting hooked off at half-time.

Starting behind Neymar in a more creative role, Firmino often ran out wide to stretch the Chilean defense open, and while he managed to do so to some extent, wasted a good chance in the first-half.

Following some good work in the build-up by Neymar, he lofted a fabulous cross into the far post for Firmino, but the Brazil number 20 sent it wide, robbing his PSG counterpart of what could've been a beautiful assist.

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Hit: Arturo Vidal (Chile)

Vidal's friction with the referee aside, he was impressive in the attack

If this was indeed the last Copa America game of his career, Arturo Vidal may have signed off on a high. There were no trophies to celebrate but the player was a thorn in Brazil's defense, taking the game to the holders with his devastating link-up play whilst also working hard off-the-ball too.

He created two chances in the match and registered a pass completion rate of 86%. Vidal stationed himself high up the pitch, which kept the Brazilian defense on his toes.Once they were down to 10-men, Chile made life difficult for them, with much of the good work stemming from the Inter Milan man himself.

😡 El enojo de Arturo #Vidal 🇨🇱 con el arbitraje de Patricio #Loustau 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/c46cfqKmLY

— El Gráfico (@elgraficoweb) July 3, 2021

The only downside of his game, though, was how he cheaply conceded free-kicks and looked reckless at times. He even went into the book for hacking down Neymar with a cynical foul but can consider himself lucky not to have been sent off for the sheer number of fouls he gave away.