Paulinho the hero as Brazil dominates Uruguay to remain top
Heading into Thursday's World Cup qualifier in Montevideo, Uruguay had conceded just once at home, to Ecuador's Felipe Caicedo.
Brazilian midfielder Paulinho took that parsimonious defensive record and shredded it to pieces, as the Guangzhou Evergrande standout scored a trio to maintain the Selecao's stranglehold on top spot in CONMEBOL qualifiers.
Neymar cemented the 4-1 result with a characteristically silky chip that evaded Martin Silva in the 74th minute courtesy of a deep Miranda clearance that left little for the Barcelona star to do besides outpace a lead-footed Sebastian Coates.
Related - Watch: Neymar turns on the jets, schools Uruguay with nasty chip
All that was left was for Paulinho to notch a first career international hat-trick, which the former Tottenham man did in extra time after Dani Alves' cross found the midfielder's chest yards from goal. It was a finish as simple as Paulinho's display was dominant.
With the treble, Man of the Match honouree Paulinho has four goals in three matches for Tite's lot, with Brazil now boasting a seven-point advantage on second-place Uruguay.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, the match didn't start in Brazil's favour.
After Edinson Cavani bagged a ninth-minute penalty in front of a jubilant crowd at the Estadio Centenario, Uruguay appeared on its way to just a second victory in five qualifiers and a one-point margin behind the Brazilians. That lead would last 10 minutes, as Paulinho silenced a partisan crowd with a 30-yard stunner.
Related - Watch: Brazil's Paulinho levels from 30 yards vs. Uruguay
Brazil next plays Paraguay on Tuesday at the Arena Corinthians, and despite the scoreline, Tite will know that there's still work to be done. Besides Paulinho's efforts, La Liga foes-cum-Canarinho cousins Neymar and Casemiro were both class, while Liverpool pair Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho were for the most part invisible.