Mexico defeats Brazil

Mexico handed Brazil their fourth successive defeat on Thursday, beating the defending champions 1-0 as the two sides opened their Copa America campaigns.

Earlier, Paraguay hit an injury time equaliser to draw 3-3 with Peru in the first match of what was effectively a double bill of reserve team football.

An overloaded fixture list, chaotic organisation by the South American Football Confederation (CSF) and security fears have prompted most teams to leave their top players at home and Argentina to pull out of the discredited competition altogether.

Apart from Mexico, who had some regulars in their line-up, all the teams playing in Thursday's group B games fielded second string teams.

Brazil, who have yet to score in two games under new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, never recovered after falling behind to a fifth minute goal by Jared Borgetti in their group B game.

The four-times world champions, who lost to France and Australia in the Confederations Cup and Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier in previous outings, looked disjointed and apathetic and rarely threatened Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez.

In the first game, Silvio Garay's last-gasp goal gave Paraguay a point after Peru had led three times.

Striker Abel Lobaton, defender Juan Pajuelo and veteran Jose del Solar scored for Peru, with Virgilio Ferreira hitting Paraguay's first two goals.