MELBOURNE, Australia — The weather was perfect for football. American football, that is. Maybe that's why the Americans were able to make history.
On a chilly, rainy evening that felt nothing like a Summer Olympics, the U.S. men's team advanced out of the first round of an Olympic soccer tournament for the first time, beating Kuwait 3-1 Tuesday.
Danny Califf scored in the 40th minute, Chris Albright in the 63rd and Landon Donovan in the 89th as the Americans dominated their Middle East opponents, who no doubt were more used to sand and hot sun than the slippery, bone-chilling conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Substitute Bader Najem scored for Kuwait in the 83rd.
It was only the fifth victory for an American men's soccer team in 25 games (5-12-8) in 12 Olympic appearances dating to 1924. Two of those wins have come against Kuwait.
When Cameroon tied the Czech Republic 1-1, it meant the United States won Group C and Cameroon finished second. The Americans will play in Canberra on Saturday against the runner-up in Group D, which will be determined Wednesday.
Califf's goal was a solid header off a corner kick from Jeff Agoos. Albright got the second goal when he beat Jamal Abdulrahman to a long ball to the left of the net and slotted a tight-angle shot past goalkeeper Shehab Kankone. Donovan scored on a 2-on-1 break with Josh Wolff to secure the win.
The U.S. team, which tied its first two games and needed a victory to advance to the quarterfinals, controlled the flow of play throughout. The Americans had a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks in the first half.
The Americans passed well, but had trouble finishing early against a Kuwaiti team that packed its defense and seemed content to play for a tie in the first half. Kuwait could have advanced with a draw; instead, it finished group play 1-1-1 and was eliminated.
Albright had the first good scoring chance with a clear header from 12 yards in the 36th minute, but Kankone dived right to make the save. Two minutes later, Ben Olsen's shot from the top of the penalty box was stopped by Kankone. Olsen then put the rebound wide left under pressure from a defender.
Kankone, who kept the game from being a rout, made another good save on Olsen in the 56th minute.
Kuwait's best scoring chance before its goal came when Faraj Saeid had open space for a 13-yard drive in the penalty box in the 78th. But Brad Friedel pushed the ball away with a leaping save. Basher Abdulaziz appealed for a penalty kick in the 54th, but was instead given a yellow card for taking a dive.
Najem's goal came on a counterattack. Naser Alothman crossed from the right, and Najem beat a sliding Califf to put the ball home.
The 19,684 fans seemed lost in the 95,000-seat MCG as they deserted the front-row seats and watched the game from sheltered seats underneath the mezzanine and the partial roof overhang. The rain stopped during the first half, but the damage was done. One of the linesmen kept the crowd entertained by sliding down hard more than once while trying to follow the run of play.
Cameroon 1, Czech Republic 1
At Brisbane, Lauren Etame Mayer scored a first-half goal to give Cameroon the point that enabled it to advance. The Indomitable Lions placed second to the United States in Group C because of an inferior goal differential.
Etame Mayer scored 23 minutes into the match and Lukas Dosek tied it on a rebound in the 73rd.
Nigeria 1, Italy 1
At Adelaide, defending champion Nigeria gained the point it needed to reach the quarterfinals. But the Africans tossed away a first-half lead and had midfielder Azubuika Oliseh ejected early in the second half, which means Nigeria will have two players suspended for the quarterfinals Sept. 23.
Garba Lawal gave the Nigerians the lead on a penalty kick five minutes before halftime. The Italians got even in the 68th minute when Roberto Boronio's long-range shot deflected off Nigerian defender Gbenga Okunowo.
Honduras 2, Australia 1
At Sydney, David Suazo scored one goal in each half in game involving two teams that did not advance. The goals gave Suazo a tournament-leading four, including the game-winner in the 60th minute.
Suazo scored his first of the game 2 minutes, 40 seconds after the opening kickoff on a lightning-fast counter.
Michael Curcija's 51st-minute goal gave the Australians some hope, but Suazo ended it with his other score.
WOMEN
Germany 1, Sweden 0
At Melbourne, Ariane Hingst scored in the 88th minute as Germany completed a perfect first round. The Germans were the only team to win all three of their first-round games. They will play a semifinal game Sunday in Sydney.
Sweden was 0-2-1 and scored only one goal in the tournament.
Brazil 2, Australia 1
At Sydney, Raquel and Katia scored eight minutes apart in the second half and Brazil moved into the semifinals. The loss ended the hopes of Australia, and, again, disappointed a capacity crowd at the 40,000-seat Sydney Football Stadium. The park was packed for a doubleheader for the second time in four days.