Brazilian striker Frederico Chavez Guedes, better known as Fred, scored two goals to lead a 3-0 rout of world champion Spain in the Confederations Cup championship.
Sunday's win at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro gave Brazil its third straight Confederations Cup title. The tournament is considered a warm-up for next year's World Cup, also in Brazil.
The two-week tournament was marred by protesters angry at the government, in part, for investing billions of dollars in stadiums and other projects. In addition to the Confederations Cup and World Cup, Brazil is hosting the 2016 Olympics.
Just before Sunday's championship, police clashed with a large crowd of protesters outside Maracana stadium. Witnesses said demonstrators hurled stones at police who responded by firing tear gas.
The protesters had won a surprise endorsement from Brazilian striker Fred, who told a reporter Saturday he supported the protests. Fred opened the scoring in the second minute with the earliest goal ever scored in a Federations Cup final.
Then in the 47th minute, he slid the ball past Spanish goalie Iker Casillas to make it 3-0. Brazil's Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, also known as Neymar, scored the other goal in the 44th minute.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, nearly scored in the 41st minute. But Brazilian defender David Luiz made a sliding save, prompting the crowd to chant his name.
Brazil is a five-time world champion.
Sunday's win at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro gave Brazil its third straight Confederations Cup title. The tournament is considered a warm-up for next year's World Cup, also in Brazil.
The two-week tournament was marred by protesters angry at the government, in part, for investing billions of dollars in stadiums and other projects. In addition to the Confederations Cup and World Cup, Brazil is hosting the 2016 Olympics.
Just before Sunday's championship, police clashed with a large crowd of protesters outside Maracana stadium. Witnesses said demonstrators hurled stones at police who responded by firing tear gas.
The protesters had won a surprise endorsement from Brazilian striker Fred, who told a reporter Saturday he supported the protests. Fred opened the scoring in the second minute with the earliest goal ever scored in a Federations Cup final.
Then in the 47th minute, he slid the ball past Spanish goalie Iker Casillas to make it 3-0. Brazil's Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, also known as Neymar, scored the other goal in the 44th minute.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, nearly scored in the 41st minute. But Brazilian defender David Luiz made a sliding save, prompting the crowd to chant his name.
Brazil is a five-time world champion.
