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Played
July 26, 2012 8:00 PM BST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: R. Irmatov
Attendance: 72176
July 26, 2012 8:00 PM BST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: R. Irmatov
Attendance: 72176
20′
Craig Bellamy
Team GB 1-1 Senegal: Konate spoils the party as hosts stumble to draw despite Bellamy opener
Stuart Pearce’s side failed to hold on to the lead, supplied to them by the Liverpool forward's finish, sharing the points on the opening day of the men’s football competition
By Shane Farrington
Getty Images
Team GB opened their 2012 Olympics campaign by slipping from the lead to a 1-1 draw against Senegal.
Craig Bellamy gave the hosts a first-half lead but the African side came into the match in the second period and struck with less than 10 minutes remaining through Moussa Konate.
Great Britain coach Stuart Pearce made two changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Brazil, with Jack Butland replacing Jason Steele in goal and Steven Caulker coming in for James Tomkins, while Senegal included new West Ham signing Mohamed Diame.
Both sides failed to dominate the opening minutes of the game, with Team GB narrowly edging possession.
The opening goal of the game arrived in the 20th minute when the Senegalese defence failed to clear a wide free kick whipped in from Ryan Giggs. Abdoulaye Ba's weak header landed at the feet of Bellamy, who steadied himself before hitting a calm volleyed finish into the back of the net.
The visitors were gifted a fantastic chance to equalise shortly afterwards when Butland's poor clearance could only pick out Sadio Mane. However, the Metz midfielder chipped narrowly wide with the Birmingham City stopper bearing down on him.
This seemed to spark Senegal into action and Mane had another presentable opportunity to score just minutes later but saw his effort blocked by Micah Richards' desperate lunge. This turned out to be the last real chance of the half and Pearce's side went in holding onto their narrow lead.
The visitors started the second half the brighter and again came close to levelling the game. Ibrahima Balde did well to find space before forcing Butland into a smart save.
Team GB continued to ride their luck and again had Butland to thank as he dived well to palm a fierce Saliou Ciss effort behind. From the resulting corner, Danny Rose jumped high to head another Balde effort off the line.
The match quickly became a tempestuous affair and threatened to boil over with 20 minutes remaining when Bellamy went down just inside the area under a lunging tackle from Ciss. However, the Liverpool man’s appeals for a spot-kick went unanswered, to the dismay and anger of his team-mates.
With fewer than 10 minutes remaining, Konate latched onto a superb through-ball from out wide to chip the ball over the onrushing Butland and give his side a deserved equaliser.
Team GB came close to regaining their lead late on when second-half substitute Aaron Ramsey picked out Marvin Sordell in the middle of the area but the Bolton man rattled the crossbar with a left-footed shot.
Next up for Team GB is a match against UAE at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, while Senegal face group leaders Uruguay, who beat the Emirati team 2-1 earlier on Thursday.
Craig Bellamy gave the hosts a first-half lead but the African side came into the match in the second period and struck with less than 10 minutes remaining through Moussa Konate.
Great Britain coach Stuart Pearce made two changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Brazil, with Jack Butland replacing Jason Steele in goal and Steven Caulker coming in for James Tomkins, while Senegal included new West Ham signing Mohamed Diame.
Both sides failed to dominate the opening minutes of the game, with Team GB narrowly edging possession.
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The visitors were gifted a fantastic chance to equalise shortly afterwards when Butland's poor clearance could only pick out Sadio Mane. However, the Metz midfielder chipped narrowly wide with the Birmingham City stopper bearing down on him.
This seemed to spark Senegal into action and Mane had another presentable opportunity to score just minutes later but saw his effort blocked by Micah Richards' desperate lunge. This turned out to be the last real chance of the half and Pearce's side went in holding onto their narrow lead.
The visitors started the second half the brighter and again came close to levelling the game. Ibrahima Balde did well to find space before forcing Butland into a smart save.
Team GB continued to ride their luck and again had Butland to thank as he dived well to palm a fierce Saliou Ciss effort behind. From the resulting corner, Danny Rose jumped high to head another Balde effort off the line.
The match quickly became a tempestuous affair and threatened to boil over with 20 minutes remaining when Bellamy went down just inside the area under a lunging tackle from Ciss. However, the Liverpool man’s appeals for a spot-kick went unanswered, to the dismay and anger of his team-mates.
With fewer than 10 minutes remaining, Konate latched onto a superb through-ball from out wide to chip the ball over the onrushing Butland and give his side a deserved equaliser.
Team GB came close to regaining their lead late on when second-half substitute Aaron Ramsey picked out Marvin Sordell in the middle of the area but the Bolton man rattled the crossbar with a left-footed shot.
Next up for Team GB is a match against UAE at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, while Senegal face group leaders Uruguay, who beat the Emirati team 2-1 earlier on Thursday.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leandro Damião Striker Internacional |
6 | 0 |
|
Moussa Konaté Striker Krasnodar |
5 | 0 |
|
O. Peralta Striker Santos Laguna |
4 | 0 |
|
Giovani dos Santos Striker Mallorca |
3 | 1 |
|
Neymar Striker Santos |
3 | 1 |
