Spain, Japan Into Knockouts, Argentina Bounce Again In Olympic Soccer

Argentina bounced again from the chaos of their opening defeat within the Olympic males’s soccer to beat Iraq 3-1 on Saturday, whereas Spain and Japan turned the primary groups by way of to the quarter-finals. Two-time gold medallists Argentina started their marketing campaign on the Games with a 2-1 defeat by Morocco on Wednesday in Saint-Etienne in a match marred by crowd hassle. The South Americans had a late equaliser disallowed and the ultimate minutes happened in an empty stadium following the disruption.

However, Javier Mascherano‘s facet registered their first win in Group B on Saturday and the end result, coupled with Ukraine’s last-gasp 2-1 victory over Morocco in Saint-Etienne, means all 4 groups within the part are actually stage on three factors.

Argentina went forward on 14 minutes in Lyon when Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez laid the ball off for Thiago Almada to fireplace in.

Iraq drew stage in first-half stoppage time as captain Aymen Hussein rose to move residence.

But Argentina went again forward simply after the hour mark. Luciano Gondou had been on the pitch barely two minutes when he appeared unmarked on the again publish to move in an inviting cross.

The third purpose got here 5 minutes from time as Kevin Zenon laid the ball again for Ezequiel Fernandez, of Boca Juniors, to curve in from vary.

“We need to look forward and focus on what we can control, which is playing football. That is what I suggested we do, play the better football,” stated Mascherano as he refused to revisit the Morocco debacle.

France on verge of quarters

Morocco had been caught by a 98th-minute sucker punch in opposition to Ukraine, who grabbed the victory when Oleh Fedor arrange Ihor Krasnopir to attain from shut vary.

Ukraine had gone forward halfway by way of the primary half by way of Dmytro Kryskiv however appeared in hassle when Volodymyr Saliuk pulled again Soufiane Rahimi within the field on the hour.

Saliuk’s yellow card was upgraded to pink on evaluation, and Rahimi transformed the penalty, his third purpose of the event making it 1-1.

Morocco had been then pushing for the winner with the additional man when Ukraine snatched the factors.

In the final spherical of group video games on Tuesday, Argentina face Ukraine whereas Morocco meet Iraq. 

Spain are by way of to the final eight already after claiming a second win from as many video games in Group C because the Tokyo silver medallists beat the Dominican Republic 3-1 in Bordeaux.

Fermin Lopez gave them the lead, however debutants the Dominican Republic surprisingly equalised on 38 minutes when Angel Montes de Oca headed in at a nook.

However, they had been lowered to 10 males in first-half stoppage time when captain Edison Azcona obtained his marching orders for kicking out at Pau Cubarsi.

Spain made the additional participant rely after the break, with Alex Baena’s deflected strike restoring their lead earlier than substitute Miguel Gutierrez tapped in on 70 minutes.

Spain’s passage to the final eight was secured after Egypt beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Nantes, Ahmed Koka scoring the one purpose early on.

Thierry Henry‘s France workforce made it two wins from two in Group A as they edged Guinea 1-0 in Nice, with Freiburg full-back Kiliann Sildillia heading in a Seventy fifth-minute winner from Michael Olise’s cross.

France usually are not but by way of from Group A, wherein the United States thrashed New Zealand 4-1 in Marseille within the different sport.

The host nation nonetheless require some extent in opposition to New Zealand on Tuesday to ensure progress.

Japan, winners of this 12 months’s Under-23 Asian Cup, secured a quarter-final berth with a dramatic 1-0 victory in opposition to Mali in Bordeaux.

Rihito Yamamoto scrambled in the one purpose within the 82nd minute, though Mali had an opportunity to equalise from a penalty deep in damage time.

The spot-kick was given for a handball after a VAR evaluation, however Cheickna Doumbia contrived to place it vast.

Also in Group D, Paraguay scored twice in stoppage time to beat Israel 4-2 in an entertaining sport in Paris, with Marcelo Fernandez’s brace bookending the victory for the 2004 silver medallists.

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