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DAY -1: 26 July 2012/Thursday

The Games of the XXX Olympiad are officially set to open on Friday in London, and Olympic fever has started to take over cyberspace. There has been speculation and myriad hypotheses about who might set the flame alight at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford from among the former British sporting greats that the organizing committee has assembled to participate in the opening ceremonies. There has also been controversy, as widows of the 1972 Munich tragedy fight vainly for a moment of silence at those ceremonies honoring the memory of the 11 athletes who lost their lives 40 years ago.

The participants are ready to walk into the stadium bedecked in their nation’s colors, behind their nation’s flag, in the processional that commences the quadrennial spectacle. But some athletes will feel more confident in their garb than others. The American team has taken a large dose of invective for the overseas construction of their garments, their Ralph Lauren-designed blazers and hats outsourced to China. But it is the Spaniards in the garish freebies that will lead many to revert back in time and try to adjust the contrast and brightness of their televisions.

The thousands of athletes are all primed to pursue the dream of citius, altius, fortius in the coming weeks. But while most are still itching to get out of their togs and into more athletic attire, a select few of those athletes will already have Olympic action in their legs when they parade around the track for the tens of thousands in the seats and the millions watching worldwide. While July 27 is the official start of the Games, there have already been 14 games completed in the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments in the two days preceding Friday’s festivities.

If you’ve been waiting for the flames and fireworks to kick-start the next fortnight of Olympic sports action, you missed out on one amazing result after another. A third of the group stage is gone; only two chances remain for each team to book their place in the medal rounds. With proper British decorum, ladies went first, a six-pack of Wednesday action followed by the eight men’s contests on Thursday. And that goes without mentioning the world record set in the hours before the ceremony commenced. The soft opening of the Games around Great Britain has already yielded moments that will resonate within the larger history of the 2012 Olympiad.

Honduras v. Morocco (Hampden Park/Glasgow)

The opening match of the men’s Olympic soccer tournament was a hard-fought, free-flowing affair that ultimately resulted in a point for both sides. Honduras, entering the tournament on a hot streak after reaching the World Cup in 2010 for the first time in three decades, was in control early, but as the first half wore on both sides were able to penetrate the other’s defenses to test the respective goalkeepers.

Abdelaziz Barrada uncorked a wicked volley in the 39th minute, beating Jose Mendoza with the shot to put the Moroccans up 1-0. Though Honduras would press for the equalizer, they would remain a goal down heading into halftime.

The second half saw the Central Americans apply greater pressure as they worked forward into Moroccan territory. The North Africans were getting more physical, ceding fouls that allowed Honduras to consolidate their position in the attacking third of the field. It all paid off when Jerry Bengston got free and tapped in the tying goal past Mohamed Amsif in the 56th minute. Nine minutes later Bengston would strike again, converting a penalty kick after Zakarya Bergdich had taken down Eddie Hernandez in the box.

But the equalizer was quick in coming, Zakaria Labyad striking just two minutes after Bengston’s go-ahead penalty to equalize at two apiece. The Hondurans would get the advantage when Bergdich was sent off with a straight red card for kicking Mario Martinez directly in the knee, but despite being down a man it was Morocco who more consistently earned chances for the winner. Neither team would score, though, the 2-2 draw earning each a point.

Mexico v. South Korea (St. James’ Park/Newcastle)

Mexico was lucky to escape from Newcastle with a draw after being thoroughly outplayed by the Koreans in their opener. With Giovani Dos Santos on the sidelines to start the match, South Korea pressured the Mexican defense throughout the first half. Unable to convert on any of their five corner opportunities, though, the match remained in a scoreless deadlock as referee Slim Jedidi blew the whistle for the intermission.

The Koreans came out attacking once more in the second half, peppering the Mexican goal with shot after shot but unable to find the net behind Jose Corona. Captain Koo Ja-Cheol pinged a shot off the crossbar in the 53rd minute, coming close but failing to give his side the lead. Twelve minutes later, Corona was forced to tip away a blast by Ki Sung-Yueng. Koo nearly put in a header in the 80th minute. But nothing was getting past the goalkeepers, and the game ended scoreless on Tyneside. Both sides were forced to settle for a single point as neither could break through.

Spain v. Japan (Hampden Park/Glasgow)

The defending world champions — with a core group of youngsters that played a prominent role in defending the European championship in Poland and the Ukraine earlier this summer — were stunned in Glasgow by a resilient Japanese team unlucky not to have buried the Spaniards even further. It wasn’t the exact side that had captured glory in its last three major tournaments, but the result nevertheless was a shock considering the talent still fielded by the Europeans.

When Yuki Otsu beat his marker in the 34th minute, putting himself in perfect position to tap in a corner kick that David de Gea could only glance wistfully at as it passed him, the Japanese had gained all the goals it would need to prevail. A few minutes later, Spain was further set back when Inigo Martinez received a straight red card for his blatant tackle of Kensuke Nagai, who was free and clear with just de Gea to beat before being pulled to the turf.

As the match wore on into the second half, it was simply poor finishing that kept them from potting three, four or even five into the Spanish net and taking full advantage of Martinez’s dismissal. Spain would still control the ball nearly two-thirds of the time, but it was the only resemblance the under-23 squad had to their senior counterparts. Japan showed themselves to be the true class of their group with a victory far more dominant than the one-goal scoreline attested.

United Arab Emirates v. Uruguay (Old Trafford/Manchester)

Uruguay, South American champions and one of the favorites in their first Olympic tournament since winning back-to-back titles in 1924 and 1928, looked lethargic in the first half of their encounter against an opportunistic United Arab Emirates. Playing its first international competition since sneaking into the 1997 Confederations Cup as Asian Cup runner-up (thanks to Asian champion Saudi Arabia entering the Confederations Cup as hosts), UAE was finding holes in the Uruguayan defense and feeding the ball forward precisely. It paid off when they took the lead in the 23rd minute, Ismaeil Matar taking the long through ball from Omar Abdulrahman as he threaded through Uruguay’s central defense and slotting it beyond the reach of Martin Campana.

They continued to pressure the favorites after the first goal, but failed to add to their lead. Instead it was Uruguay who nabbed an equalizer before halftime. After Luis Suarez had been fouled by Amer Abdulrahman, Gaston Ramirez lined up the free kick from 25 yards out and expertly beat Ali Khaseif to tie things up. After looking out of sorts, Uruguay escaped to the locker room at halftime lucky to be level.

The goal seemed to calm Oscar Tabarez’s squad as they entered the second half, the 2010 World Cup semifinalists slowly gaining control as time advanced. The catalyst proved to be a second-half substitute, Nicolas Lodeiro, who came on for Matias Aguirregaray and immediately introduced a new gear to the Uruguayan attack. His addition paid dividends when he scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 56th minute. UAE gamely battled to the final whistle, but they were not able to replicate the chances of the first half and suffered defeat.

Gabon v. Switzerland (St. James’ Park/Newcastle)

Playing their first ever international competition, Gabon put up a spirited fight to draw against Switzerland at St. James’ Park. Switzerland was awarded a penalty kick in the fifth minute when Henri Ndong pulled down Innocent Emeghara inside the penalty area. Admir Mehmedi stepped up and converted past Didier Ovono for the quick advantage. Mehmedi missed another opportunity in the 11th minute, but as the first half wore on Gabon started to wear down the Swiss defenses.

Jerry Obiang nearly equalized in the 21st minute, beating Diego Benaglio but hitting the post. Alexander Ndoumbou and Allen Nono put Benaglio to work as well, and Gabon put several other shots wide as they continued to press for a goal. The efforts finally paid off just before stoppage time. Ndoumbou streaked up the wing and tapped in a cross that fell right into the path of a streaking Pierre Aubameyang. Collecting the ball, he tucked it under the outstretched Benaglio for the leveler just before halftime.

The scoring opportunities proved harder to come by as the game advanced, both defenses stiffening in the second half. The battle turned physical, as referee Wilmar Roldan stopped the match throughout for fouls by both sides. After incurring an earlier yellow card for a hard foul on Levy Madinda in the first half, Oliver Buff forced Roldan to his pocket again in the 78th minute when he clearly dove trying to gain a phantom foul. Playing with ten men in the final fifteen minutes, Switzerland and Gabon clawed their way to a stalemate and split the points.

Belarus v. New Zealand (City of Coventry Stadium/Coventry)

Dmitry Baga was the hero of the match for Belarus, converting a header just before halftime to lift the Europeans over New Zealand in Coventry. It wrapped up a dominant first half for the Belorussians, who outplayed the Kiwis through the first half with one shot on goal after another. New Zealand goalkeeper Michael O’Keefe was up to the challenge throughout the first half, but as stoppage time loomed he misplayed the cross that allowed Baga to redirect the only goal of the game into the unguarded net.

New Zealand ratcheted up their attack in the second half, but it was in vain. Belarus still had the bulk of possession, taking two dozen shots and putting seven on goal. O’Keefe managed to prevent most of them from crossing the goal line, but it was Baga’s one shot that made all the difference. In their first-ever taste of Olympic soccer competition — or any major international competition, for that matter — Belarus snatched victory.

Brazil v. Egypt (Millennium Stadium/Cardiff)

It was a tale of two halves, as the South American powerhouse paced itself to a big lead by halftime and then was forced to hold on as Egypt threatened to steal away a point or more. Playing with a group of youngsters that will likely make up the core of its World Cup team on home soil in two years, the Brazilians put on a rousing display of offensive football in the first half. Corralling a through ball from Oscar, right back Rafael streaked through the defense and unleashed a right-footed shot that beat Ahmed Elshenawi for the first goal in the 16th minute. Ten minutes later, Oscar ran down a long pass and flicked the ball back to Leandro Damiao for the second. A Neymar header from a Hulk cross added a third goal a half hour into the match.

Up 3-0 as the second half began, Brazil looked ready to coast to victory. But then the Egyptians started pressing, challenging the Brazilian defenders that up to that point had been streaking forward and threatening their goal. The pressure would pay off when Egypt earned a free kick just outside the box in the 52nd minute. Meteab Emad got the first touch, striking the post, but the rebound came right to 33-year-old captain Mohamed Aboutrika. The veteran put the ball easily past Neto, pulling his team within two.

Mohamed Salah nearly scored a second goal four minutes later, but his delayed shot was blocked by Neto. It wasn’t until the 76th minute that Salah’s attacking verve paid off. The striker pounced on a failed clearance by the Brazilian defense, tucking the ball into the left corner of the net. Just a goal separating the two teams, Brazil finally clamped down in the last quarter-hour to preserve a victory much narrower than expected.

Great Britain v. Senegal (Old Trafford/Manchester)

Playing as a unified nation in the Olympics for the first time since 1960, the host nation was thwarted from delivering victory to the capacity crowd at Old Trafford in a physical battle that was loosely arbitrated by referee Ravshan Irmatov. Despite his wealth of experience — Irmatov refereed five matches at the 2010 World Cup, including the Germany-Argentina quarterfinal and the Uruguay-Netherlands semifinal — the Uzbek referee seemed wary to overly favor the home side despite the Africans’ chippiness. Ultimately the physicality allowed Senegal to claw a point from the contest.

Britain took the lead in the 19th minute, when Senegal failed to clear a free kick that Welshman Ryan Giggs launched into the box. Fellow Welshman Craig Bellamy — who had been pulled down by Saliou Ciss to generate the free kick less than a minute earlier — pounced on the ball, driving a half-volley into the ground that took a deceptive hop past keeper Ousmane Mane to gain the lead. But the lead would not hold for the side that had played together as a unified side for less than three weeks prior to their match against Senegal.

Sadio Mane nearly drew the game level prior to halftime, but put the shot high and wide after British goalkeeper Jack Butland had gifted it to him. Butland was put to the test for the rest of the game. Within the first ten minutes of the second half, the 19-year-old was forced into service to stop tough shots by both Ibrahima Balde and Ciss. Moussa Konate finally notched an equalizer in the 82nd minute, beating Butland on the counterattack. The goal came right after British pleas for a penalty went unheeded by Irmatov following a rough foul against Bellamy by Ciss on the edge of the box. Both teams had chances to pull ahead as the final minutes melted away, but neither was able to find the go-ahead goal and the game ended deadlocked.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D