Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden scored the only goal of the game as the United States edged Japan 1-0 on Thursday in the first men's soccer match of the 2008 Summer Olympics for both teams in Tianjin, China.
Holden started and played 83 minutes, scoring his goal in the 47th minute. The play began with Holden near the center circle, and he played the ball wide to Marvell Wynne on the right. Wynne carried the ball to the corner and crossed, but the ball was deflected to the top of the box. Holden, using his non-preferred left foot, ripped a one-time shot that slipped through Japanese goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and dribbled over the line.
"It felt like an eternity as the ball was rolling out to the top of the box," Holden said. "I just wanted to get it on frame because there were a bunch of people in front of me. I hit it left-footed, and it crawled over the line. I think it's the first goal I've scored that hasn't touched the back of the net. It's obviously a great feeling when the ball goes in, and to score in the Olympics is unbelievable."
The goal held up as the only goal in the United States' 1-0 win. The United States leads Group B after Netherlands and Nigeria played to a 0-0 tie in the other match. The U.S. will face the Netherlands on Sunday, August 10.
"It's a good feeling, obviously, to get a goal," Holden said. "It's a great feeling not only for me personally but to help the team win. If we hadn't gotten the three points, it wouldn't have been as exciting, but to come out and do that in the first game was obviously our first goal. We're happy to have achieved that, and we're looking forward to our second game versus the Netherlands."
Holden, who turned 23 on August 1, was born in Scotland and moved to the Houston area as a boy, eventually graduating from the Awty International School. Now in his third year with the Dynamo, Holden has scored 10 goals and notched 11 assists in 67 career games in Major League Soccer and international competition.
Another Dynamo player, defender Patrick Ianni, is also on the United States squad but did not see action in Thursday's match.
The Houston Dynamo, two-time defending MLS Cup champions, resume their MLS season on August 16 with a home match against Real Salt Lake. For more information or for tickets, call (713) 276-7500 or log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com.
