Team GB 1 Senegal 1: Africans muscle in with late goal in Manchester

Friday 27 July 2012

The Welsh FA should probably look away now.

Craig Bellamy was a notable presence for Team GB, scoring the opening goal at Old Trafford. Picture: PA

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Herald Staff

Great Britain's men's football team got their Olympic campaign underway with a 1-1 draw against Senegal inside Old Trafford last night, with Welshman Craig Bellamy scoring the hosts' first goal of the tournament.

The Liverpool forward – never one to stray too far from controversy – sent a volley into the net early in the first half after the ball broke free in the penalty area following a free-kick from Ryan Giggs. It was greeted with adulation and effusive chants of "GB" from the stands but will have likely aggravated the Welsh FA, who had been against any of their players taking part in the first place.

They have been titillated, then, by the latest faux pas to afflict football at the games. Having offended the North Koreans by displaying a South Korean flag on the big screens at Hampden ahead of their win over Colombia on Wednesday night, there was another incident of mistaken nationality at Old Trafford. Joe Allen is Welsh in all but the official match programme – which listed the midfielder as English. He did not walk off, though. Well, at least not until necessary.The Senegalese are noted for their physical prowess and they seemed intent on proving the point with a series of robust challenges against Team GB. Bellamy and Allen suffered the most severe – the latter was removed after an hour with a knock after he was felled for a second time. Bellamy, meanwhile, was clattered on the edge of the box by Saliou Ciss late on, only for Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov to ignore appeals for a penalty.Minutes later and Senegal disrupted the party atmosphere by drawing level through Moussa Konate. GB will point to the earlier 'foul' but that should not be allowed to cover up for a performance which was lacked passion and pressure after the break.They did not lack leadership on the pitch, though. There was some justification for Stuart Pearce that all three overage players were involved. Giggs, Bellamy and Micah Richards are all over the age of 23 and all were involved in the opening goal. Giggs – wearing the captain's armband – swung a free-kick high into the area for Richards to challenge, with Bellamy following up with a clinical volley.It was a promising start for Pearce's side after somewhat inauspicious results in their warm-up games, but GB should have been in front for long.After spending the early part of his summer gaining experience as England's No.3 goalkeeper at Euro 2012, this was Jack Butland's chance to shine. The 19-year-old almost blew it though, directing a routine clearance straight to Sadio Mane, who chipped disappointingly wide. He was more composed after the break, saving smartly from Ibrahima Ba's low shot.Zargo Toure then thundered a shot over before Saliou Ciss brought another decent save out of Butland and Rose cleared a powerful Abdoulaye Ba header off the line.Their resistance was broken by Konate. The Senegal striker latched on to a neat pass before lifting a delicate strike over Butland with just eight minutes left.The hosts could have recovered with Marvin Sordell string the crossbar after the ball fell to his feet inside the box. The Watford midfielder threw his head back in disappointment. Pearce had his in his hands. His side lie behind Uruguay in Group A, after the South Americans defeated United Arab Emirates.They were joined in celebration last night by their continental neighbours Brazil. The Group C leaders, who are strong favourites to win gold, overcame Egypt 3-2 inside the Millenium Stadium.It was Brazil forward Oscar's first chance playing in Britian since his move to Chelsea and he enjoyed a starring role as his side fended off a brave fightback from Egypt.The midfielder set up Rafael and Leandro Damiao for the first two Brazil goals, before Neymar made it 3-0 at half-time in front of a crowd of 26,812 – greater than the attendance at Team GB women's fixture against New Zealand. The South Americans took their foot off the gas after the break and were punished as Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Salah pulled goals back for Egypt, but it was not enough for the Africans.The Selecao went in front after 16 minutes when Oscar gave a glimpse of his talents with a lovely reverse pass that allowed Manchester United's Rafael to drill home.Oscar then rounded Egyptian goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawi before squaring for Leandro to fire home from close range. He was unable to prevent a brief fightback from the Egyptians but his side showed why they are so highly rated.

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Team GB 1 Senegal 1: Africans muscle in with late goal in Manchester

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