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Brazil soccer team begins quest with win over Belgium

Hernanes scored a late goal as Brazil began its quest for a first Olympic gold in soccer with a 1-0 win over Belgium in Group C play.

Hernanes netted the winner in the 79th minute, firing a hard shot from inside the area into the left-upper corner of the net at the nearly packed Shenyang Olympic Stadium.

Ronaldinho, Diego, Alexandre Pato and the rest of Brazilian stars were kept in check by the Belgians during most of the match until defender Vincent Kompany was ejected in the 72nd after receiving a second yellow card.

ARGENTINA 2, IVORY COAST 1

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, cleared to play in the Olympics after striking a late deal with his club Barcelona, celebrated by scoring the opener and creating the winner as the South Americans beat Ivory Coast 2-1.

UNITED STATES 1, Japan 0

The United States made the most of their limited attacking opportunities to open their campaign with a 1-0 win over Japan at Tianjin Stadium yesterday.

The sole goal in the Group B match came two minutes into the second half when Scottish-born Stuart Holden latched on to a misdirected Japan clearing kick and fired in from 30m.

ITALY 3, Honduras 0

Italy got first-half goals from forwards Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi and Robert Acquafresca added another in the second as Italy beat Honduras 3-0 in its opening match.

Giovinco, who plays for club side Juventus, put Italy ahead in the 41st minute with a powerful left-footed strike from 30m that sailed past Honduras keeper Kevin Hernandez’s outstretched arms and into the upper left corner.

Four minutes later, Slovakian referee Damir Skomina awarded Italy a penalty kick after defender Quiarol Arzu’s handball in the box.

AUSTRALIA 1, SERBIA 1

Slobodan Rajkovic equalized with a header from a corner yesterday for Serbia to draw 1-1 with Australia.

Ruben Zadkovich gave Australia a 69th-minute lead from David Carney’s cross at Shanghai Olympic Stadium, but Rajkovic equalized in the 78th to achieve a deserved draw.

SOUTH KOREA 1, CAMEROON 1

Midfielder George Mandjeck scored a late goal to rally Cameroon to a 1-1 draw with South Korea in their opening match.

Both teams created a host of quality scoring opportunities in the physical, seesaw game until Cameroon defender Paul Bebey fouled Park Chu-young.

CHINA 1, NEW ZEALAND 1

Substitute striker Dong Fangzhuo scored a late equalizer Thursday to give host China a 1-1 draw against 10-man New Zealand in their opener.

Dong’s 88th-minute header from near the penalty spot went over New Zealand goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley and into the far post, delighting the loud home crowd at the nearly packed 60,000-capacity Shenyang Olympic Stadium.

NETHERLANDS 0, NIGERIA 0

Nigeria held the gold-medal favorite Netherlands to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday, competing evenly with the reigning two-time European under-21 champion in their Olympic opener.
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