Argentina recovered from the chaos of their inaugural Olympic men’s football defeat to beat Iraq 3-1 on Saturday, while Spain and Japan became the first teams to reach the quarter-finals. Two-time gold medalists Argentina began their Games campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Morocco on Wednesday in Saint-Etienne in a match marred by crowd trouble. The South Americans had a late equalizer disallowed and the final minutes took place in an empty stadium after the interruption.
However, Javier Mascherano’s side recorded their first victory in Group B on Saturday and the result, together with Ukraine’s last-minute 2-1 victory over Morocco in Saint-Etienne, means that the four teams in the group are now tied with three points.
Argentina took the lead in the 14th minute in Lyon when Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez laid the ball out for Thiago Almada to score.
Iraq equalized in first-half stoppage time when captain Aymen Hussein went up to head home.
But Argentina went back in front just after the hour. Luciano Gondou had only been on the field for two minutes when he appeared unmarked at the back post to head in an inviting cross.
The third goal came five minutes from time when Kevin Zenon passed the ball back for Boca Juniors’ Ezequiel Fernandez to curl in from distance.
“We need to look ahead and focus on what we can control, which is playing football. That’s what I suggested we do, play the best football,” Mascherano said as he refused to revisit the Morocco disaster.
France on the verge of quarters
Morocco were caught out in the 98th minute against Ukraine, who snatched victory when Oleh Fedor set up Ihor Krasnopir to score from close range.
Ukraine took the lead midway through the first half through Dmytro Kryskiv, but appeared in trouble when Volodymyr Saliuk pulled Soufiane Rahimi in the box in the 60th minute.
Saliuk’s yellow card was upgraded to red after review, and Rahimi converted the penalty, his third goal of the tournament to make it 1-1.
Morocco were then fighting for victory with the extra man when Ukraine took the points.
In the final round of the group stage, on Tuesday, Argentina faces Ukraine, while Morocco faces Iraq.
Spain progressed to the quarter-finals after recording their second victory in as many games in Group C, as the Tokyo silver medalists beat the Dominican Republic 3-1 in Bordeaux.
Fermin Lopez gave them the lead, but debutants Dominican Republic surprisingly equalized in the 38th minute when Angel Montes de Oca headed in a corner.
However, they were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time when captain Edison Azcona was given his marching orders for sending off Pau Cubarsi.
Spain made their extra player count after the break, Alex Baena’s deflected shot restoring the lead before substitute Miguel Gutierrez scored in the 70th minute.
Spain’s passage to the quarter-finals was assured after Egypt defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 in Nantes, with Ahmed Koka scoring the only goal early on.
Thierry Henry’s France side made it two wins from two in Group A by beating Guinea 1-0 in Nice, with Freiburg full-back Kiliann Sildillia heading home a 75th-minute winner from Michael Olise’s cross.
France have yet to qualify from Group A, where the United States beat New Zealand 4-1 in Marseille in the other game.
The host country still needs a point against New Zealand on Tuesday to guarantee qualification.
Japan, winners of this year’s U23 Asian Cup, secured a place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mali in Bordeaux.
Rihito Yamamoto scored the only goal in the 82nd minute, although Mali had the chance to equalize after a penalty in stoppage time.
The penalty was awarded for a handball following a VAR review, but Cheickna Doumbia managed to shoot wide.
Also in Group D, Paraguay scored twice in stoppage time to defeat Israel 4-2 in an entertaining game in Paris, with two goals from Marcelo Fernandez marking victory for the 2004 silver medallists.
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