By David Gold
July 25 – The reigning Olympic champions, the United States, were given an almighty scare by France in their opening match of defending their women’s football title, but eventually came through to register a 4-2 win at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
On the first day of Olympic action at London 2012, they fell behind early on when Gaëtane Thiney capitalised on an error by Amy LePeilbet, whose headed clearance from a long ball landed at the Frenchwoman’s feet.
She took advantage of the space offered by LePeilbet’s failure to track the flight of the ball to curl past Hope Solo.
France stunned the US by going two up minutes later, and the second goal was a wonderful finish from Marie Laure Delie (pictured below).
After the ball had rolled loose into her path on the edge of the area, Delie made space with some fancy footwork before trying to play in Élodie Thomis.
Thomis could not control the ball, but it rolled into Delie’s path, and she rifled home a fierce shot.
The reigning champions fought back valiantly, however, Abby Wambach showing her quality with a header from a corner within five minutes.
On the half hour, Alex Morgan (pictured below, number 13) then latched onto a long ball which the France defence left to chip over Céline Deville.
The comeback was complete 10 minutes into the second period, as Lloyd found space outside the area and fired decisively past Deville.
Morgan then sealed the win after finishing a flowing move.
Megan Rapinoe played in Tobin Heath with a pass which dissected the French defence.
Heath then played the ball across goal for Wambach, who could not quite connect, but it ran through for Morgan to slot into an empty net.
Japan, the reigning world champions, also made a winning start, beating Canada 2-1 at the City of Coventry Stadium.
Nahomi Kawasumi scored following intelligent play from Shinobu Ohno, who held the ball up in the area at the end of a flowing move.
She then backheeled the ball into Kawasumi, who found herself free on goal, and calmly curled the ball home.
Captain and World Player of the Year Aya Miyama then made it two, before Melissa Tancredi pulled one back for the Canadians.
There was a baptism of fire for Cameroon, who faced Brazil at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, aiming for their first ever football gold.
Francielle (pictured below) fired the Brazilians in front with a free kick after six minutes, before a header from Renata Costa doubled the lead two minutes later.
Brazil saw out the match with two goals from five-time World Player of the Year Marta and one from Cristiane to secure a 5-0 win.
World Cup semi-finalists Sweden were rampant in their opening match against South Africa at the City of Coventry Stadium.
They were 3-0 up at half time after goals from Nilla Fischer, Lisa Dahlkvist and Lotta Schelin, and also hit the woodwork three times.
South Africa pulled one back with possibly the goal of the day as Portia Modise struck a superb lob from near the half way line.
Schelin then scored again to seal the Swedish win.
The opening day of sport at this summer’s Olympic Games finished with an unseemly row though.
North Korea were angered after the South Korean flag was mistakenly displayed prior to their women’s football opener against Colombia at Hampden Park.
The North Korean player names were shown beside a picture of the South Korean flag in an embarrassing blunder which marred the opening day of action at London 2012.
The team walked off the pitch in anger and only returned to start the match with Colombia an hour later.
The North Koreans have received a swift apology, and did not seem too affected as they went in at half time 1-0 up against the South Americans.
Kim Song Hui (pictured above, number 16) put them ahead with a fortuitous strike when the ball ricocheted in off her knee as she tried to connect with a cross.
Hui then sealed the win with five minutes to go, taking advantage of an error by Stefany Castaño to chip the ball over the line.
Britain had beaten New Zealand 1-0 in the opening day’s game, a strike from Steph Houghton giving Hope Powell’s side three points on their Olympic debut.
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