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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Brazil came out on top in the matchup of past and present football powers on Sunday, winning its third Confederations Cup title and boosting its confidence ahead of next years World Cup. The hosts proved too strong for world champion Spain, cruising to a 3-0 victory at the Maracana Stadium in the match everyone had been expecting for years. Spain did not have what it took to stop Brazils reinvigorated team, allowing the five-time world champion to earn a resounding victory with two goals by Fred and one by young sensation Neymar. "We played a very good match, it allows us to have a better idea about the path ahead of us," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. "We have a good team to play in the next World Cup." Fred put Brazil on the board less than two minutes into the match, Neymar added to the lead just before halftime and Fred netted his fifth goal in five matches early in the second half to give Brazil victory at the World Cup warm-up tournament. "We beat the world champions today, but we know that the tournament that we will be playing next year will be a lot more difficult," Scolari said. "Now we have more confidence, thats what we needed." Sergio Ramos missed a penalty kick in the 55th and Spain ended the match a man down after defender Gerard Pique was sent off with a straight red card for fouling Neymar in the 68th. Brazil came in hoping a victory would help it regain its status as a global powerhouse after recent struggles. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hadnt won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. "The champion is back," chanted the crowd of more than 73,000 people at the renovated Maracana, the stadium that will host the World Cup final on July 14 next year. It also didnt take long before the fans -- in a sea of yellow jerseys -- started teasing the Spaniards, chanting "Wanna play, wanna play!? Brazil will teach you." The Brazilian players huddled after the final whistle and started singing and jumping, then went toward the crowd near the sidelines and began celebrating. David Luiz kneeled down and raised both of his hands into the air. Brazil, which won its fourth Confederations Cup, has not lost a competitive home match since 1975. The result ended Spains 26-match unbeaten streak. Ranked first for the past 20 months, Spain hadnt lost since a 1-0 result England in a friendly in London in 2011. Its last loss in an official competition had happened 29 matches ago, in the 2010 World Cup opener against Switzerland. Spain badly wanted a victory against the five-time world champion, which was one of the few top teams it hadnt faced since it began dominating international football. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said it was a "deserved defeat." "Theres not much to say, they were superior on every way," he said. "They scored early. This is not an excuse but they had pressure on us all the time." It was the first time the traditional football nations had met since a scoreless friendly in 1999. The last competitive match between the teams had been Brazils 1-0 win in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Brazil scored early on Sunday and kept pressuring, but it didnt take long for Spain to start taking control of the match. The Europeans were not able to create many dangerous opportunities, though, while Brazil kept threatening the most while relying on counterattacks. Fred opened the scoring after a cross into the area by Hulk in the second minute. The ball bounced off Neymar near the far post and Fred, who had fallen while trying to reach for the cross, fired it in with his right foot while still on the ground. Brazil added to the lead with Neymars fourth goal in five matches after an exchange of passes with Oscar in the 44th. The newly signed Barcelona striker, touted as the future of Brazilian football, fired a powerful left-footed shot into the top of the net. Neymar was voted the player of the tournament. Neymar and Daniel Alves took the time after the match to congratulate their Barcelona teammates, who looked desolate across the field. Fred closed the scoring in the 47th from just inside the area, sending a low shot to the far corner. Hulk started the move with a pass to Neymar, but the striker let it go as Fred came running behind him. Spain had the penalty kick after Marcelo fouled Jesus Navas inside the area, but Sergio Ramos sent his kick wide. Spains greatest chance before the penalty came with Pedro Rodriguez in the 41st, when he entered the area clear from defenders in a breakaway. His low shot beat Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but David Luiz came rushing in and slid in front of the goal line just in time to keep the ball from going in. Brazil won the its first Confederations Cup title in Saudi Arabia in 1997, then again in Germany in 2005 and in South Africa in 2009. Spain was trying to win the tournament for the first time. No Confederations Cup champion has ever won footballs showcase event the following year. Brazil struggled after Scolari returned to the national team earlier this year, winning only one of its first six matches with him in command, but it has won six in a row now. The warm-up tournament, which gives the home country a chance to test its preparations for the World Cup, is played among continental champions plus the World Cup winner and the hosts. There were protests outside the stadium during the match, with police using rubber bullets and tear gas to keep demonstrators from getting too close. A wave of anti-government protests has swept across Brazil in recent weeks, and many affected the Confederations Cup host cities as demonstrators complained of the costs of hosting the World Cup. On the field, it was a heated match from the start, with players from both teams pushing and shoving each other a few times. Even the substitutes got into a shouting match.Byron Murphy Womens Jersey . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Kurt Warner Womens Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Pat-Tillman-Cardinals-Jersey/ .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Andy Isabella Youth Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Hakeem Butler Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester.INDIANAPOLIS -- As Simon Pagenaud collected a $1 million champions check on Tuesday night at the Verizon IndyCar Series awards banquet, he was already contemplating what the 2017 IndyCar season might actually look like.He has already been involved in meetings about improving the No. 22 car. He plans to test next week at Elkhart Lake. He wants to win the series marquee race, the Indianapolis 500. And soon, Pagenaud could be welcoming a new teammate to Team Penskes stable in North Carolina.Things couldnt get much better for the 32-year-old French driver, who won a series-high five races and seven poles this season to attain his lifelong dream by winning the series title.Im so proud of what happened, so happy, because it really has been my dream and it hasnt been easy to get here, he said. I really mean it, this has been my dream since I was a little kid.Pagenauds victory added another chapter to Roger Penskes incredible résumé as a team owner, this time in his milestone 50th season as a team owner.Penske didnt make it this far by sitting still, savoring victories or getting complacent. So why start now -- after Pagenaud, 2014 series champ Will Power and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves swept the top three points places in 2016?Instead, Penske always keeps chasing more, which is why he wants to add the best young American driver in the series, Josef Newgarden, to his four-car garage. Had Newgarden been on the team last season, Penske would have swept the top four spots.And now it looks like the worst kept secret in IndyCars is on the verge of being confirmed.Were here tonight to celebrate 2016, Penske said, brushing aside questions about the expected announcement. I think well decide what the future will be soon, I hope.Ed Carpenter Racing announced last week that Newgarden had decided not to return to that team next season.And Newgarden tried to keep his future plans under wraps on Tuesday night, explaining he didnt even consider moving on until he flew to Hawaii following the Sept. 18 race at Sonoma. In the two-plus weeks since the season finale, what started as a rumor has quickly become the conventional wisdom.Newwgarden didnt help his case when he arrived Tuesday evening on the red carpet after Castroneves, after Power, after Penske and even after Pagenaud.dddddddddddd. A slightly embarrassed Newgarden downplayed the order of appearance at the awards banquet, acknowledging that never was the plan, but it still raised more questions about whats next for the rising star.Yes, Im currently unemployed, hopefully not for long, the 25-year-old Tennessee native said. When I had that conversation with Ed, it was very difficult. I think we could have continued for as long as we wanted, but a lot goes into a decision, and sometimes when youre young, you just want to try something different.Penske and his drivers didnt drop any hints of what might be coming.I know Josef pretty well, Pagenaud said. I actually dont know whats going on; Ive just been reading what youve been writing about Josef and Juan [Pablo Montoya]. I thought it worked pretty well last year, and thats not to say if Josef comes on board that it wouldnt work. It probably would.But before Pagenaud welcomes a new teammate and begins the daunting task of defending a title, he has a few more stops on his agenda.Hed like to take a vacation, switch off his cellphone and spend some time reflecting the biggest achievement of his life.I just want to take some time to enjoy all this, he said. I havent really had time to do that yet.NotesThe late Bryan Clauson was selected as the series most popular driver by fans. The 27-year-old Clauson died in August from injuries sustained in a crash during a midget-car crash. ... Pagenaud also earned the P1 Award for scoring the most points among pole winners. ... Billy Vincent, who worked with Pagenaud, was named the series chief mechanic of the year, and Jon Bouslog, of Team Penske, was named team manager of the year. ... Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was named the series rookie of the year, Conor Daly earned the Dont Crack Under Pressure Award and Charlie Kimball earned the Drive to the Finish Award for completing the most laps. ' ' '