By Mark Finlay
Brazil has won the Confederations Cup beating Spain 3-0 in a one sided final in front of a lively crowd in the Maracana Stadium.
The match got off to an incredibly fast paced start the saw Brazil score the opening goal after just 95 seconds when Fred found the back of the net after the ball had bounced off Neymar, and could have doubled their lead moments later but for Oscar shooting wide following a lovely touch from Fred.
Casillas was forced to produce an incredible save after Paulinho tried to lob the Spanish keeper and the Brazilian players thought that Alvaro Arbeloa was lucky to stay on the pitch after having pulled back Neymar.
Spain then shouted for a penalty that was waved off before the Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar made a good save from Andres Iniesta, with Torres heading the subsequent corner too high and over the crossbar.
Spain were looking extremely dodgy at the back with Fred and Neymar constantly looking dangerous, when the game nearly took a dramatic change with a Pedro shot that looked like a certain goal having to be cleared off the goal line be a sliding David Luiz.
Brazil the following the scare took control once more with Oscar patiently waiting to find Neymar onside before expertly passing the ball to the Barcelona striker for him to smash home into the roof of the net.
After the Break the fans were in their samba loving mood as the Brazilians continued to dominate the play scoring their third goal when that man Neymar dummied a pass from Hulk allowing Fred to steer the ball into the net past a helpless Casillas.
Jesus Navas come on for the Spaniards and was soon awarded a penalty that defender Sergio Ramos managed to shoot wide of the left-hand post.
If things were not bad enough for Spain events to a turn for the worse when Neymar beat Pique forcing the Spanish defender to bring him down, and with the referee deciding Pique was the last line of defence showed the Barcelona man a red card with just 20 minutes remaining in the match.
Spain now down to 10 men kept trying to get back into the match with both Pedro and David Villa forcing Cesar to make a couple of outstanding saves.
The night however belonged to Brazil beating the World Cup Holders Spain 3-0 in front of a home crowd.
