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Brazil's Neymar (L) fights for the ball with Belarus' Denis Polyakov during their men's Group C football match at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Old Trafford in Manchester July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

Soccer: Brazil, Japan through, Uruguay stumble
Soccer: Brazil, Japan through, Uruguay stumble
Posted : Sunday, 29 July 2012 03:37PM

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Ten-man Senegal caused a huge upset when they beat Uruguay 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday while title favorites Brazil, inspired by the dazzling Neymar, swept into the quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat Belarus 3-1.

Japan, who stunned Spain 1-0 in their opener, also secured their place in the last eight from Group D with a 1-0 win over Morocco at Newcastle's St James' Park.

Uruguay, back in the Olympics for the first time since winning their second successive soccer gold in 1928, had never previously lost an Olympic match but found no answer to first half goals from Moussa Konate even though Senegal played for 10 men for an hour after Abdoulaye Ba was sent off for hauling down Uruguay's skipper Luis Suarez.

The result put Olympic debutants Senegal top of Group A with four points, followed by Uruguay on three, at least until Britain plays the United Arab Emirates at Wembley in an 1845 GMT kickoff.

Senegal were worth their victory which makes a place in the last eight alongside Brazil and Japan a real possibility.

Japan left it late to beat Morocco with Kensuke Nagai scoring the winner in the 84th minute when he lofted the ball over advancing goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif.

INSPIRED PERFORMANCE

Brazil became the first side to qualify for the next stage thanks to their come-from-behind win against Belarus thanks to an inspired performance from Neymar, who scored and made the two other goals.

Brazil's victory, courtesy of a header from Alexandre Pato, a 30 meter free-kick from Neymar and a brilliantly-taken third by Oscar after being set up by a backheel from Neymar, meant Brazil have six points from their opening two Group C matches.

Brazilian-born Renan Bardini headed Belarus in front after eight minutes but although they lost they will go through if they beat Egypt on Wednesday.

Egypt were in action in the other Group C match played earlier at Old Trafford in Manchester and wasted plenty of chances in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand which did neither team's hopes of advancing much good.

Chris Wood put the Kiwis ahead after 17 minutes before Mohamed Salah equalized after 40 minutes for his second goal of the tournament.

In other early action, Mexico beat Gabon 2-0 in Coventry with two goals from substitute Giovani Dos Santos, who lives in the Olympic city of London and plays for Tottenham Hotspur.

Mexico have four points in Group B and look set to advance to the last eight, probably with South Korea who beat Switzerland 2-1 and also have four points.

Sunday's late matches included hosts Britain playing the United Arab Emirates in front of an expected 80,000 crowd at Wembley.

(Reporting by Mike Collett, editing by Justin Palmer and Nigel Hunt)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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