Brazil stun Spain in Confederations final

BRAZIL destroyed world and European champions Spain 3-0 to win a third straight Confederations Cup title with a dazzling display of football which left the Maracana Stadium in raptures here Sunday.

The turbo-charged samba stars roared to victory with two goals from Fred and a stunning strike from Neymar, dominating a weary Spanish side whose strength was sapped after edging Italy on penalties in Thursday's semi-final.

A miserable night for Spain also saw them miss a second half penalty when Sergio Ramos shot wide from the spot before Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off for a professional foul on Neymar.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the result as the perfect fillip as he plots a course to an assault on next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.

"People know a much tougher event is coming up (next year)," said Scolari. But he noted: "We can set out on the journey with a little more confidence."

It took Fred only two minutes to hand Brazil the lead after some dodgy defending by Spain.

Spanish counterpart Vicente del Bosque meanwhile admitted his side had been outclassed on the night. "There are no excuses. Brazil were better than us. We must congratulate them," del Bosque said.

The touchpaper for an electrifying evening at one of the most iconic venues in football was set during the pre-match ceremonies as Brazil's fans in a 73,531-crowd belted out a spine-tingling rendition of the national anthem.

The stirring anthems came as police clashed with protestors outside the ground before kick-off, the latest in a series of violent confrontations which have dogged the tournament since it kicked off.

With the euphoric stadium crowd behind them, Brazil raced into a 1-0 lead after only two minutes through Fred's first of the night.

Hulk lifted over a cross and Neymar slid a hopeful ball to the centre forward, who was prone in the box as he flung out his right leg to hook home from point blank range past helpless Spanish custodian Iker Casillas.

Brazil's forward Neymar wheels away to celebrate after doubling the hosts' lead.

Oscar then fired a low shot just wide after Fred played on a Neymar flick before a Paulinho chip almost embarrassed Casillas as Brazil poured forward, visibly boosted by the overwhelming din of support cascading down from stands.

Spain briefly responded with a swirling drive from Andres Iniesta which appeared to be drifting just wide before Brazil keeper Julio Cesar pushed the ball away for a 19th-minute corner which Fernando Torres.

Scolari, who led the Brazilians to their last World Cup success 11 years earlier to the day, had begun the event playing down expectations after the legendary Pele slammed the current side as not good enough to win top prizes.

But in recent days Scolari had suggested now was the time for next year's World Cup hosts to show they are back in business.

Rarely on a football field was a message delivered so emphatically as the hopes of the Spanish, struggling to impose their high tempo possession game, withered and died.

Brazil's defender David Luiz pulls off an astonishing goal line clearance to deny Spain an equaliser.

Spain central defender Pique, already booked for a first half challenge, was sent off for taking Neymar's legs under him after the break - the bearded star left the fray to chants of "Shakira," his Colombian partner.

Had Spain found some of the singer's rhythm they might have stood a chance - but such was the pace of the hosts' high-speed interplay they were down and out after David Luiz made a superlative block in the 42nd minute.

Torres and Juan Mata produced an all-Chelsea interplay before sending Pedro away and the Barcelona forward arrowed an effort goalwards with Julio Cesar stranded.

As Brazilian hearts leapt into mouths, Luiz threw himself across the goalline to clear - prompting cheering that echoed back from the rafters.

There were niggly moments as Oscar, one of four Chelsea men on the pitch at the start, earned a booking for diving after a Ramos challenge.

Fred then saw Casillas make a fine stop with his legs from a low drive before the centre forward missed a free header.

Defender Sergio Ramos (2-L) takes a penalty against Brazil only to see the ball go out.

But as the clock ticked down at the end of the first period Neymar made it 2-0, combining with Oscar before the Barcelona-bound starlet, just onside, twisted to smash an unstoppable left-footed drive past Casillas for his fourth goal of the event.

The 21-year-old vaulted the advertising hoardings to disappear in a sea of frenzied fans before embracing his teammates as the noise level climbed ever upwards.

Two minutes after the restart it was 3-0 as the swashbuckling Fred again showed why Scolari is such a fan, firing an unerring low drive wide of Casillas' outstretched arm after a brilliantly instinctive Neymar dummy.

Spain reacted as coach Vicente del Bosque, the only man to coach teams to the World Cup, the Euros and the Champions League, sent on Jesus Navas for Mata - but there would be no resurrection for Spain.

After Marcelo fouled Navas there was still time for Ramos to send a spotkick wide for Spain as his effort summed up their evening - put on the spot, and found wanting, while Brazil showed that a sixth World Cup could just be there for the taking.

Back to the drawing board as Spain bubble bursts

June 16, 2010 and June 30, 2013. The dates bracket an era which came to an end Sunday in Rio for world champions Spain as their 29 competitive matches unbeaten run came to a shattering end in a 3-0 Confederations Cup final loss to exhilarating Brazil.

Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers shows the red card to Gerard Pique for a foul on Brazil's forward Neymar

The Furia Roja had during those three years and two weeks also become the first side in international footballing history to win three straight major tournaments, adding the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros to their Euro 2008 success.

The Spanish media lauded a golden era as one which finally proved that Spain are not perennial losers.

But with next year's world title defence a year away it is now back to the drawing board for Vicente del Bosque and company.

Del Bosque admitted Brazil were far better on the day - Spain looked exhausted and out for the count once Fred bundled in a second-minute opener for the hosts before Neymar and Fred again completed a one-sided affair.

"They deserved it, and sometimes it is important to lose," said Del Bosque.

Spain's forward Fernando Torres (R), Brazil's forward Fred (C) and Brazil's forward Neymar greet each other after receiving the Golden, Silver and Bronze Boot trophies as top scorers respectively.

"Of course we are not happy but we must analyse where we went wrong. Yet our record is cause for optimism ... we have good players and a defined style of play.

"You don't just change all that on the back of one defeat, deserved as it was," the former Real Madrid handler calmly observed as he failed to become the first coach to win the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League and Confederations titles - he is already alone in landing the first trio of crowns.

"Football is a sport and we knew our opponents were very strong and things went in their favour right from the outset" with Fred's opening goal, said Del Bosque.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos agreed that "it was one of those days when nothing goes for you. The first goal came very quickly. It was tough to go behind when we had come into the final with such high hopes," said Ramos, whose missed penalty was only one of a myriad of incidents which proved it was a bad day at the office all round.

"We just have to praise our opponents for a great performance, and today we saw the other side of the footballing coin - that you can't always turn it on."

Brazil's players celebrate with the trophy at the end of the final. It is their third consecutive Confederations Cup trophy.

The usually dependable fulcrum of the Spanish side, Andres Iniesta, also had an off day as the Brazilians overran their rivals:

But the future Barcelona teammate of Neymar said: "That's football, you just have to bounce back. They were better and gave us the run around. Next year we'll be back and will hope to do things better."

Despite his teammates' sanguine comments, skipper Iker Casillas said he was down, with Spain having failed to land a title missing from their collection.

"The defeat hurts. We can only say well done Brazil and get back up off the canvas."

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, sent off midway through the second half for a foul on Neymar, said afterwards there was one positive to take from his evening.

"Neymar is a brilliant player. I'm just glad he will be playing for us next season," Pique said.

AFP