Neymar hits home Brazil’s opening goal yesterday.

Hosts Brazil opened the Confederations Cup with a 3-0 win over Japan yesterday but the occasion was marred when police had to deal with protesters outside the Mane Garrincha National Stadium.

Neymar lit up the match with a stunning early goal but the final scoreline reflected a more laboured victory over Japan than the home fans were hoping for.

Neymar rifled in the opening goal in only the third minute but frustration grew from the Brasilia crowd before Paulinho fired in the second early in the second half and Jo wrapped it up with almost the last kick of the game.

Barcelona’s new signing Neymar would exit in the 74th minute after receiving treatment on his back, but the points were already secured.

This was the first international match to use goal-line technology, but it was not required to confirm Neymar’s strike had crossed the line.

He smashed the ball home from the edge of the area with only his second touch after Fred chested down Marcelo’s arrowed pass from the left wing.

But if the fans hoped that heralded the start of a rout they would be disappointed with the rest of the first half, with a reminder of the pressure Brazil will be under both in this tournament and at next year’s World Cup coming with the restless murmuring which began to seep from the stands.

Just as they had in the first half, Brazil struck early in the second, with only two minutes played when Paulinho expertly turned and then lashed an unstoppable shot at goal, with keeper Eiji Kawashima getting to it but only able to slow, not stop, its progress towards the net.

Japan responded well, heading quickly to the other end where Shinji Okazaki poked a shot wide but Brazil gradually regained control of the match.

Fred saw half-hearted penalty appeals turned away when he tumbled on the edge of the area but there was far greater concern in the 69th minute when Neymar went down after a challenge with Makoto Hasebe and was carried off on a stretcher.

There was a thumbs-up from the physio and a brief return to action, but Neymar continued to hold his lower back and was soon replaced by Lucas Moura.

The match had become scrappy, although Japan had a decent chance when Brazil failed to deal with a free-kick and substitute Ryoichi Maeda tested Julio Cesar with a powerful first-time shot which the goalkeeper, wobbly in the first-half, held.

With Hulk and Fred soon replaced, Brazil seemed content to shut up shop for the final 10 minutes but there was a final flourish when Oscar slipped the ball through for Jo to side-foot under the Japan goalkeeper.

Earlier, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters before the match, leaving more than 30 people injured outside the stadium in an ugly start to the tournament.

The activists were protesting against what they see as excessive use of public funds for stadiums and sporting events instead of health and education programmes, according to local television network GloboNews.

The demonstration appeared to be peaceful until protesters tried to block an entrance to the Mane Garrincha National Stadium.

Police reacted by firing rubber bullets and tear gas, some of which blew towards supporters who were on their way to the match, television pictures showed.

Media photographs also showed some people with rubber bullet marks.