Confederations Cup 2013 Results: Latest Scores from Day 1

As expected, Brazil easily handled Japan 3-0 on the first day of the Confederations Cup in Brazil. Neymar got his side off to a strong start with a goal at the 3:32 mark of the match. Per the ESPN broadcast, it was the sixth-fastest goal in tournament history.

It was all downhill for Japan from there.

The Brazilians had their opponents brutally outplayed throughout the entire match.

Brazil's defense was impressive as well. Japan had very few realistic opportunities to score. Julio Cesar stepped up to eliminate the scant chances Japan had. The Brazilians kept explosive Japanese star Shinji Kagawa away from his attack areas and dominated the match.

Paulinho added an insurance goal during the 48th minute to ice things. Jo's goal in extra time just added insult to injury.

The win gave Brazil an early edge in Group A play. They will almost certainly have tougher matches as things progress, but this win will only make the hometown crowd more of a factor moving forward.

Key Player

Neymar

Though Neymar only scored the first goal, his quick strike set the tone and relieved a ton of pressure from his shoulders. Take a look at the beautiful shot that was set up by a chester from Fred.

The 21-year-old phenom was the most-hyped player heading into this tournament. Scoring such a spectacular goal so quickly was the biggest statement made in the match.

He did suffer a few seemingly minor injuries that caused him to come off the pitch in the second half. He returned briefly, but ultimately gave way for good during the 73rd minute.

It Was Over When...

Paulinho's goal seemed to drain all the hope out of Japan. Their energy level and overall pace dipped significantly after that tally. Here is a look at Paulinho's goal:

It was almost as if Japan was just going through the motions at that point. Fox Soccer Trax tweeted the same concept:

What's Next?

Both teams will be back in action on June 19, when Brazil takes on Mexico and Japan is in for another tough battle with Italy. Brazil will be looking to move to 2-0 in group play, while Japan must avoid falling to 0-2.

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