Chelsea's Sturridge lifts Britain into last eight

Already-qualified title favourites Brazil and Japan were joined by hosts Britain, surprise qualifiers Egypt, Mexico, Senegal, South Korea and Honduras in the quarter-finals of the Olympic soccer tournament on Wednesday.

Britain beat Uruguay 1-0 in Cardiff to make it through to the last eight for the first time since 1956 and will meet South Korea in the last eight in the Welsh capital when all four games are played on Saturday.

Brazil will play Honduras at St James' Park in Newcastle, Japan, who qualified after their second match, will face Egypt at Old Trafford, Manchester and Mexico will meet Senegal at Wembley.

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COVENTRY, England (AP) —

Moussa Konate scored his fourth goal of the Olympic football tournament as Senegal drew 1-1 with the United Arab Emirates to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv striker scored with a clinical header in the 49th minute to go top of the tournament goalscoring list. Ismaeil Matar had given the UAE a surprise lead in the 21st.

Senegal finished in second place in Group A with five points and will play Group B winner Mexico in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The UAE finished bottom of the group with one point.

Konate said the win gave the team confidence for the rest of the tournament.

"I think we can go to the final and I think we can take the final," he said.

Konate was Senegal's most dangerous player at the City of Coventry Stadium.

He had two chances to score in the opening 20 minutes, but couldn't stretch far enough to poke Pape Souare's cross into an open goal after a quarter of an hour and then headed wide two minutes later.

The UAE opening goal came totally against the run of play. Rashed Eisa beat Senegal defender Kara Mobodji just inside the box and Matar chipped Eisa's cross over Senegal goalkeeper Ousmane Mane to put his side in front.

Senegal's domination finally paid off four minutes into the second half when Konate headed in another Souare cross to equalise.

Konate nearly got a second within two minutes, forcing a fine save from Khalid Eisa with a shot from inside the box and then Badji went close.

UAE coach Mahdi Redha said he was happy with his team's performances even though they were knocked out of the tournament.

"I think it was a very strong competition for us and it was a very strong group, especially playing with the home team," he said. "I think we were not lucky in some games but today we have seen a very strong game."

Egypt, who endured a torrid start to the competition when they trailed 3-0 to Brazil in their opener, completed a remarkable recovery by reaching the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Belarus.

Brazil completed their perfect run of three straight wins when they beat New Zealand 3-0 at St James' Park, Newcastle to seal first place in Group C ahead of Egypt.

Four matches played in the afternoon produced only one goal when Mexico beat Switzerland 1-0 in Cardiff to win Group B. 

The other games between South Korea and Gabon in Group B and Japan and Honduras and Spain and Morocco in Group D finished goalless with only South Korea and Japan advancing.

Spain, among the favourites before the tournament started, went out without scoring a goal.
 
SOME STYLE

There was huge and unexpected passion in Cardiff where the hosts Britain, back in the Olympics for the first time since 1960, overcame Uruguay with a goal on the stroke of halftime from Daniel Sturridge.

Fears that the Welsh crowd would boo the national anthem never materialised and they were screaming and cheering for the British team with all the passion reserved for Wales matches by the end of a thrilling clash.

Egypt, bedraggled and bewildered against Brazil at the start, finished that match narrow 3-2 losers and, inspired by that fightback, finished the group phase in some style by leapfrogging Belarus into second place.

But Egypt coach Hany Ramzy faces the prospect of losing Mohamed Aboutrika and Emad Meteab from his squad as they are due to return to their club Al Ahly before Saturday's match.

He said: "We have an agreement with Al Ahly they will fly back tonight but I am hoping Al Ahly understand the situation.

"We have an important match in three days and we needed the experience of these players, especially Aboutrika. The players have a connection with him and we need his experience in this important match."

Belarus just needed a draw to qualify but Egypt hit them with second-half goals by Mohamed Salah, substitute Marwan Mohsen and Aboutrika, whose third in the 78th minute sealed victory. Andrei Voronkov scored a late consolation for Belarus four minutes from time.

Brazil had their match against New Zealand wrapped up in the first 30 minutes. Danilo and Leandro Damiao netted the first two and midfielder Sandro added a third six minutes into the second half.

But defender Alex Sandro will miss the quarter-final after being sent off for a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.

 

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