The Olympic Report: Day -2

British medal watch

The Olympics got underway on Wednesday, two days before the Opening Ceremony (hence why I have chosen to describe it as Day -2). There was a feast of women’s football with six matches in one day, beginning with Great Britain against New Zealand from Group E at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Team GB got off to the best possible start with a 1-0 win. Steph Houghton scored a well struck free-kick from 25 yards, just after the hour mark. It was an assured victory and a deserved one, Great Britain being the better side once they settled after a nervy start. New Zealand had their chances late on as they pushed for an equaliser, but it was to no avail. Team GB take on Cameroon in their next game, on Saturday.

Top news

Also in Group E, Brazil thrashed Cameroon 5-0 with two goals for prolific forward Marta. World Champion Japan was made to work for 2-1 victory over Canada in group F, being pegged back from their two-nil lead shortly after half-time. They managed to hold on in Coventry and take the win. Afterwards, Sweden were the victors over South Africa. Lotta Schelin netted twice as the Scandinavians came out 4-1 winners. The much fancied USA team overcame an early scare to defeat France 4-2. The French took a quick two-nil lead, but with two goals from Seattle’s Alex Morgan as well as one each for Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd the Americans managed to pull out the victory. The other game in Group G, played at Hampden Park between Colombia and North Korea, saw a 2-0 victory for the Koreans.

Unsung Heroes

Anita Asante, playing for Team GB, caused numerous problems for the New Zealand defence, with three gilt-edged chances in the first half. She was unlucky not to come away with a goal, striking the woodwork on one occasion. She was consistently a handful. Yet it came down to Steph Houghton to break the deadlock with her all-important second-half goal. She made New Zealand’s unconvincing keeper Jenny Bindon make a save from a free kick in the first half, but didn’t give her a chance second time around as the ball flew past the wall and into the goal to the keeper’s right. But the most unsung hero of the day was Team GB keeper Karen Bardsley who made a number of assured stops to keep Team GB on terms early on, and then to maintain the slender lead as the game reached its climax. New Zealand never looked likely to get past.

Other news

Usain Bolt will be at full strength for the Olympic Games despite doubts as to his current fitness, according to the Jamaican team.

Moroccan middle-distance runner Mariem Alaoui Selsouli will miss the Olympic Games after failing a drugs test, while Greek triple-jumper Voula Papachristou will also not compete, after she was banned for a tweet which was deemed racist.

Team GB basketball player Pops Mensah-Bonsu has implored Team GB to inspire the nation in the upcoming Games, to avoid a repeat of last summer’s riots, which began in Mensah-Bonsu’s native Tottenham and spread across much of the country.
The country's security preparations were put to the test today as a passenger plane lost contact with air traffic control whilst flying across the north of the UK. A Typhoon jet was quickly scrambled, as is routine in this scenario, but contact was soon restored. 
Bag checks caused delays for fans trying to get into the Millennium Stadium for today's football.
A strike by immigration staff, which it was feared would compromise security ahead of the Games, has been cancelled after a deal was reached.

And finally…

The Group G game between Colombia and North Korea at Hampden Park was delayed by one hour after a flag mix-up. The North Koreans refused to begin the match, after the flag of South Korea was displayed beside pictures of the players on the big screen. The match eventually went ahead when the mix-up was resolved.

Updated medal table

Great Britain remains tied for first in the medals table, on 0 medals.

Tomorrow’s don't miss events

Men’s football gets underway tomorrow. Team GB take on Senegal at Old Trafford (kick-off 8pm) in the day’s final game, but there is a full set of games through the day, with the first being Honduras against Morocco at Hampden Park, kick-off noon.