CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Gold-medal favourite Brazil scored three first-half goals then held on for a 3-2 win over Egypt in their opening Group C match of the men’s Olympic football tournament yesterday.

Rafael opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Leandro Damiao added another in the 26th and Neymar scored in the 30th to give Brazil a comfortable half-time lead before Egypt made it interesting with goals by captain Mohamed Aboutrika in the 52nd and substitute Mohamed Salah in the 76th.

Brazil were able to control the rest of the game and held on for the victory, staying on track for their first gold in Olympic football.

The Olympic tournament is the only significant football competition Brazil have never won. The country’s senior side is a five-time world champion. Brazil finished with Olympic silver in 1984 and 1988 and the bronze in 1996 and 2008.

Brazil are one of the few teams with many of their top players in the Olympic tournament and have been touted as one of the main favourites for the gold. There are high expectations as several of the players in the Olympic squad will also likely be in the team trying to win the World Cup at home in 2014.

Egypt entered the competition trying to restore some of their football pride nearly six months after a stadium riot that killed more than 70 people and forced the suspension of the national league.

Manchester United right back Rafael scored the first goal after a perfect through ball by newly signed Chelsea playmaker Oscar. Rafael cleared a defender with one touch and fired a low left-footed shot into the net.

Oscar set up the second goal too, beating a defender and the goalkeeper to a long ball lobbed into the area and sending a pass back toward Damiao, whose shot easily got past the lone Egyptian defender on the line.

Neymar, seen as Brazil’s future star, added to the lead after finding Hulk open on the left side of the area. The FC Porto forward crossed the ball back and Neymar headed it in from close range.

Egypt pulled one back in the 52nd when Meteab Emad hit the post and Aboutrika scored off the rebound. Salah got the Egyptians even closer in the 76th after the defenders failed to clear a ball inside the area and allowed him to shoot into the left corner.

The match was played in front of nearly 27,000 mostly pro-Brazil fans at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Brazil will play their second match against Belarus on Sunday, while Egypt will face New Zealand the same day.