Brazil beats Belgium 1-0 in Group C opener

Source: Agencies  |   2008-8-7  |     ONLINE EDITION

HERNANES scored a late goal as Brazil began its quest for a first Olympic gold in football with a 1-0 win over Belgium in Group C play.

Hernanes netted the winner in the 79th minute, firing a hard shot from inside the area into the left-upper corner of the net at the nearly packed Shenyang Olympic Stadium.

Today's victory gives Brazil the lead in Group C. China and New Zealand will play the group's second match later in Shenyang.

Ronaldinho, Diego, Alexandre Pato and the rest of Brazilian stars were kept in check by the Belgians during most of the match until defender Vincent Kompany was ejected in the 72nd after receiving a second yellow card.

The Belgians complained that the defender wrongly received the first yellow in a play in which he didn't participate.

The Olympic tournament is the only significant title Brazil has never won in football.

The men's Olympic football tournament is for players 23 and under, with three exceptions for older players. The tournament began a day before tomorrow's opening ceremony in Beijing to accommodate its lengthy schedule.

Belgium surprised the more-experienced Brazilians by marking well and even threatened at times at the 60,000-capacity Shenyang Olympic Stadium. Only in the second half and after the ejection the Brazilians were able to create more chances.

The Europeans had the first scoring opportunity when striker Kevin Mirallas controlled the ball in good position inside the area but misfired from close range in the sixth. The Belgians came close again in the 27th after midfielder Marouane Fellaini had an open shot on goal but missed wide.

"We had little chances, but if you want to beat Brazil you have to take these little chances," Belgium coach Jean Francois De Sart said. "But I'm very proud of my players. They played a good game. Sometimes we even played better than Brazil."