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By Simon Evans
BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Italy and the United States made winning starts to their Olympic football campaigns on Thursday while Australia and Serbia drew 1-1 on the opening day of the men's competition.
A superb left-foot volley from the edge of the area by Sebastian Giovinco gave Italy the lead in the 41st minute of their Group D match against Honduras and just four minutes later they had doubled their advantage through a Giuseppe Rossi penalty.
The 'Azzurrini' put the game well beyond the reach of the Hondurans when Robert Acquafresca was brought down by keeper Kevin Hernandez and rose to convert the penalty and make it 3-0.
In Group B, the United States were in charge for much of their game against Japan but it was only a strike from Stuart Holden, two minutes after the break, that secured them a winning start although they had to endure some late pressure.
Marshell Wynne powered down the right flank and put in a low cross which Holden struck straight at Shusaku Nishikawa but the Japan keeper poorly let the ball under his body.
Ruben Zadkovich put Australia ahead against Serbia in the 69th minute but the lead lasted just nine minutes before Slobodan Rajkovic's equaliser.
