Senegal, which stunned the football world when it upset defending champion France in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, reached the Olympic soccer tournament for the first time Monday with a 2-0 win over Oman. The game, to decide the 16th and final place in the men's tournament, began with a goal after only two minutes from Senegal's exciting striker Ibrahima Balde of Osasuna, who headed home unmarked from a free-kick. It ended with Senegal's clincher, two minutes from time, from substitute Abdoulaye Sane. In between there was some cavalier, exciting football as Olympic soccer returned to Britain for the first time in more than 40 years in the unlikely setting of the City of Coventry Stadium. The last Olympic match played in Britain was in March 1971 when the British team beat Bulgaria 1-0 in the first leg of a qualifier for the Munich Olympics in front of just 2,200 fans at Wembley Stadium. Britain lost the second leg 5-0 which proved the country's last Olympic involvement because of political problems surrounding the home nations until 2005 when London was awarded the Games. Monday's match was not only a playoff for the 2012 Games finals but also one of 42 test events ahead of the summer extravaganza. More than 11,000 fans, comprising miserable locals depressed with Coventry City's relegation to the third tier of the English League on Saturday and lively Omanis and Senegalese, enjoyed a cold night in the midlands, watching a side from the Middle East and one from Africa, playing contrasting styles with just one aim in mind. Britain to face Senegal in first game Host Britain, taking part in their first Olympic soccer event since 1960, will kick off the bid for gold against Senegal at Manchester United's Old Trafford on July 26 after the draw was made at Wembley Tuesday. Britain will also meet Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates in Group A. Brazil, five-time World Cup winner but never Olympic champion, faces Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand in Group C. Spain, gold medalist in 1992 and the world and European champion, takes on Japan, Honduras and Morocco in Group D while seeded Mexico meets South Korea, Gabon and Switzerland in Group B. The first event of the Olympics takes place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on July 25, two days before the opening ceremony, when the British women's soccer team play New Zealand in Group E. Cameroon and Brazil are in the same section. Women's world champions Japan faces Sweden, South Africa and Canada in Group F while Olympic champion United States takes on France, Colombia and North Korea in Group G. The women's final is at Wembley on Aug. 9 followed by the men's two days later. The draw: Men: Group A: Great Britain, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay. Group B: Mexico, South Korea, Gabon, Switzerland. Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand. Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco. Women: Group E: Great Britain, New Zealand, Cameroon, Brazil. Group F: Japan, Canada, Sweden, South Africa. Group G: USA, France, Colombia, North Korea.
