Copa America: Coutinho scores hat-trick for Brazil

Philippe Coutinho completed a hat-trick as Brazil routed Haiti 7-1 at the Copa America Centenario while Ecuador produced a gutsy fightback to thwart Peru’s push for a quarter-final berth.

Coutinho conjured up the sort of form which made him one of Liverpool’s most potent attackers in the Premier League last season as the Brazilians outclassed Haiti in the first ever competitive meeting of the two nations. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder grabbed his first two goals inside the first half hour of a one-sided Group B game at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl in Florida. 

Coutinho then grabbed his third in the dying seconds of injury time, curling in a spectacular shot to complete a fine night’s work. Brazil, who had drawn 0-0 with Ecuador in a lackustre opening game last weekend, now lead Group B on goal difference, level on four points with Peru, who were held 2-2 by the Ecuadorans elsewhere on Wednesday. 

Brazil manager Dunga was left purring with pleasure at the performance of Coutinho, who scored 12 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season. “He is really taking advantage of the opportunities he has been given,” Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain said. “We have talked quite a lot to him about being the ‘Liverpool Coutinho’ - to take the initiative, be a leading part of the team, all within his own style,” added the coach. Brazil’s other goals came from Renato Augusto (2), teenage star Gabriel Barbosa and Lucas Lima. The goal-feast was a welcome return to potency for Brazil’s attack against admittedly feeble opposition. 

Defender Filipe Luis however cautioned that Brazil would face a sterner challenge against Peru in their final Group B game at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium on Sunday. “It was a comfortable win but we have to be humble, we have done nothing yet,” the Atletico Madrid left back said. “We tied the opening game so it was really important for us to win, which we did. Now we have to win against Peru.