Japan off to winning start in Olympic women's soccer

 COVENTRY, Britain, July 25 (Xinhua) -- World champions Japan got off to a winning start at the London Olympic Games women's soccer tournament when they beat Canada 2-1 on Wednesday.

Japan dominated throughout the match with better individual skills and more fluent teamwork. Winger Nahomi Kawasumi and playmaker Aya Miyama scored in the first half.

Melissa Tancredi pulled one back for Canada after the interval¹, but they could make no more troubles for the confident Japanese girls.

Britain's women's team began their campaign in Cardiff with a 1-0 win over New Zealand.

Team GB played better in the first half after a shaky start and midfielder Anita Asante went close three times.

Controlling the pace of the game, Britain broke the deadlock² in the second half as defender³ Stephanie Houghton netted a fine free-kick from just outside the area in the 64th minute.

A horrible defensive⁴ mix-up gave New Zealand a great chance to level the scores less than ten minutes later as two defenders⁵ collided to put Sarah Gregorius through on goal, but her tame shot was easily saved by Karen Bardsley.

The United States staged a spectacular comeback as they beat France 4-2 after lagging 2-0 behind. Alex Morgan scored twice.

The reigning⁶ Olympic champions looked in trouble at Glasgow's Hampden Park when Gaetane Thiney and Marie-Laure Delie handed France a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes.

However, Abby Wambach's header and a cool finish from Morgan brought the score level before half-time and further goals from Carli Lloyd and Morgan early in the second half gave the Americans a deserved victory.

Later, Brazil went top of Group E as they opened their Olympic campaign in style with a comfortable 5-0 victory over tournament newcomers Cameroon at the Millennium⁷ Stadium.

Early goals from Francielle and Renato Costa put Brazil in control, before captain Marta with a brace⁸ and substitute Cristiane sealed victory.

Sweden beat South Africa 4-1 after a first-half scoring spree in their Olympic Games Group F clash at the City of Coventry Stadium.

The DPR Korean team took the field an hour late - after a protest over the use of the ROK flag by mistake in a pre-match presentation - to beat Colombia 2-0 with two goals from Kim Song-Hui.

1 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

2 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

3 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

4 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

5 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

7 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

8 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。