Brazil's Alexandre Pato (R) challenges for the ball with Egypt's Eslam Ramadan during the men's Group C soccer match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff Thursday. — AP MANCHESTER – Favorite Brazil survived a scare before beating Egypt 3-2 on the opening day of the men's Olympic soccer competition Thursday. Earlier, Japan produced the first upset of the Games when it beat potential gold medallist Spain 1-0. Host Britain, making its first appearance at the Games for 52 years, was denied a win in front of a 72,000 crowd at Old Trafford when Senegal scored a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Uruguay came from behind to beat a lively United Arab Emirates side 2-1 in the earlier game at Old Trafford. On a day when all 16 teams were in action, there was also a win for Belarus, playing in its first major international tournament, beating New Zealand 1-0 at Coventry. The real upset though was at Hampden Park where Japan stunned Spain, looking to become the first country to hold the World Cup, European crown and Olympic title at the same time. Despite Spain's hopes of winning the title, Brazil is favorite to take its first Olympic soccer gold. It began with an ultimately nervy 3-2 win over Egypt in Cardiff after goals from Rafael, Leandro Damiao and Neymar had put them 3-0 ahead after only 30 minutes. Egypt rallied in the second half with goals by Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Salah with 14 minutes to play. Britain, playing in the finals for the first time since Rome 1960 was held to a 1-1 draw by debutants Senegal at Old Trafford after leading for more than an hour. Craig Bellamy put it ahead in the 20th minute but Moussa Konate equalized for Senegal eight minutes from time. Uruguay, back at the Games for the first time since winning the second of their two golds in 1928, preserved its record of never losing in the Olympics, coming from behind to beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in the opening match at Old Trafford. Substitute Nicolas Lodeiro scored Uruguay's winner while captain Luis Suarez was booed every time he touched the ball by a Manchester crowd unforgiving of the Liverpool player's racial spat with United's Patrice Evra last season that earned him a lengthy ban. In Thursday's other matches, Morocco and Honduras drew 2-2 at Hampden while Mexico and South Korea finished 0-0 at St James' Park, the venue for Switzerland's 1-1 draw with Gabon. — Reuters
