The United States edged Japan 1-0 with midfielder Stuart Holden's second-half goal in the opening match of Group B at the Olympic men's soccer on Thursday.

Stuart scored the winning goal in the 47th minute when he fired a powerful low shot in the box and Japanese goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa touched the ball but failed to curb it.

As the two sides are in the same group with title favorites Nigeria and the Netherlands, each team needs to win the opener to survive the group stage.

The US started with its traditional 4-4-2 formation, with three-time World Cup veteran Brian McBride forming a striking partnership with the young talent Freddy Edu.

There are no over-age players on the Japanese lineup, and only two are playing for overseas clubs -- midfielder Keisuke Honda with Dutch club VVV-Venlo and striker Takayuki Morimoto with Italian club Catania.

The Asian side used its traditional style based on passing and possession, with five midfielders supporting single striker Takavuki Morimoto.

The Japanese created a scoring chance in the 21st minute, but midfielder Masato Morishige failed to send the ball into the empty net.

Freddy Adu sent a powerful shot at the edge of the box in the 34th minute but the ball sailed just over the bar.

In the 87th minute, Japanese midfielder Tadanari Lee was hauled down in a counterattack but Senegal referee Badara Diatta refused to whistle a penalty.

The two countries have met in the knockout stage at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with the US winning in the penalty shootouts.

Japan is Asia's most successful team at the Olympics and boasts a proud record of reaching the quarter-finals four times. At 1996 Atlanta Olympics, they surprised the world by beating Brazil 1-0 in the opening match.

In the second round of Group B, Japan will play against Nigeria on August 10 while the US will face Netherlands.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2008)