Brazil fell behind early on but eventually managed to pick off plucky Peru in Temuco.
Los Incas took a shock lead after just three minutes as a hopeful ball over the top wasn’t dealt with by David Luiz, who poked the ball to an unwilling Jefferson. The Brazilian goalkeeper then lazily kicked the ball straight to Christian Cueva who smashed past him in return.
Within two minutes of going behind Brazil were level. Dani Alves curled a pinpoint ball on to the head of Barcelona team-mate Neymar, who flicked his header into the corner of Pedro Gallese’s goal.
Brazil turned up the heat after their equaliser, first Shakhtar’s Fred came close before Neymar again threatened the Peruvian goal with a drilled strike trickling wide of the far post.
Moments later Neymar had another chance, he led a breakaway for Seleção picking out Diego Tardelli who fluffed his lines, but the ball found its way back to Neymar whose shot was blocked from a certain goal by Carlos Zambrano.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued as Peru burst forward again, but the move ended with Cueva’s shot being pushed out comfortable by Jefferson.
Just over half an hour into the game Willian flashed a ball across the face of goal, however, no Brazilian was alive in the box to tap it home.
Chelsea full-back Filipe Luis worked his way through on goal five minutes before half time, unfortunately for him it was on his weaker foot and he fired the ball well over the top. On the stroke of half time Neymar received a comical booking for wiping away the shaving foam on a free kick.
With the sides drawing 1-1 at half-time, the teams would head into the second half with the game perfectly balanced.
Seven minutes into the second half, Neymar thundered a 25 yard shot off the crossbar, shifting the ball out of his feet with a single touch before rifling an effort towards goal.
The second half was played at a fairly sluggish tempo for the most part. Peru looked to maintain the draw before thinking about obtaining a victory, but both sides still looked to have the potential to be a danger.
This proved to be the case when Brazil broke from a Peru free-kick, again Neymar carrying his side forward before Douglas Costa lifted over the goalkeeper but wide of his goal.
Neymar had a chance to win it late on. Dani Alves rolled him in on goal, but the Brazilian captain was unable to find the corner of Gallese’s net, eventually tucking the ball just wide.
Just when you thought Neymar had blown Brazil’s last chance, he comes up with the pass of the game in stoppage time. Slicing the defence in two with a sumptuous ball to Douglas, Neymar gave his team-mate little more to do than tuck the ball in to an all but empty net and he duly obliged.
It was a brave performance from Peru and they were perhaps good value for a point in the end, but ultimately the game was settled by the magic of one man. Neymar.
Brazil: Jefferson; Alves, Miranda, David Luiz, Filipe; Fernandinho, Elías; Fred (Firmino 75), Willian (Éverton Ribeiro 87), Neymar; Tardelli (Douglas 66)
Peru: Gallese; Advíncula, Zambrano, Ascues, Vargas (Yotún 88); Ballón, Lobatón, Cueva (Reyna 82), Sánchez; Farfán (Carillo 82) Guerrero
Booked: Guerrero, Neymar, Filipe Luis, Vargas
Goalscorers: Cueva, Neymar, Douglas
Man of the Match: Neymar. Brazil’s golden boy shone, scoring one early and assisting one late to earn his team a valuable three points on the back of Colombia’s defeat earlier today.