Morocco beat Argentina

In a dramatic opening match of the Olympic football tournament, Morocco defeated Argentina 2-1 after a chaotic fan invasion on Wednesday. The game, held in the French eastern city, saw play suspended with the score tied at 2-2, and was ultimately decided following a lengthy VAR review.

The chaos began late in the game when Argentina's Cristian Medina scored deep into injury time, seemingly securing a 2-2 draw. However, the match was halted due to a pitch invasion by fans, which caused a significant delay. Two hours later, after fans were cleared from the stadium and following a VAR review, Medina's goal was ruled out, leaving Morocco as the victors.

During the disruption, Argentina players were visibly shaken when what appeared to be a flare was thrown onto the field. Bottles and cups were also hurled, creating a hazardous environment. The official Olympics website listed the match as "interrupted," and the organizers informed the players to stay at the stadium, ready to resume once order was restored. Video boards instructed fans to leave the stadium, emphasizing the suspension of the match.

Morocco had established a strong lead early on, with Soufiane Rahimi opening the scoring just before halftime. His goal, set up by a brilliant pass from Achraf Hakimi, was followed by a second from the penalty spot in the 49th minute, doubling Morocco's advantage. Argentina, however, mounted a comeback with Giuliano Simeone pulling one back in the 68th minute, and Medina's contentious equalizer which was later disallowed.

The match was further overshadowed by controversy as Argentina faced boos from the crowd over a video involving Enzo Fernández, which the French Football Federation labeled as "racist and discriminatory." Despite fielding a strong lineup, including recent Copa América winners Julián Álvarez, Nicolás Otamendi, and Gerónimo Rulli, Argentina failed to secure a win and faced a hostile reception from the fans.

In another high-tension match, Israel's national anthem was jeered before their 1-1 draw with Mali. The match, played under heavy security, saw the Israeli team arriving with a substantial police escort. Outside the stadium, fans from both countries mingled peacefully, but the atmosphere inside was tense, with Israeli players booed each time they touched the ball.

France's safety efforts were under intense scrutiny, with Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Paris police chief Laurent Nunez attending the match. The heavy police presence included riot police vans and armed officers patrolling the Parc des Princes stadium. Despite the security measures, the scene outside the venue remained calm, with fans from both countries holding flags and posing for photos.

In Group A's opening match, France triumphed over the United States with a 3-0 victory. The scoreless first half gave way to a dominant second-half performance by the French team. Alexandre Lacazette broke the deadlock with a powerful shot past U.S. keeper Patrick Schulte, followed by goals from Michael Olise and Loïc Badé. The United States, making their first Olympic appearance in men's soccer since 2008, saw a promising start thwarted by France's relentless attack.

Spain secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Uzbekistan in Group C. Marc Pubill opened the scoring for Spain in the 29th minute, with Uzbekistan's Eldor Shomurodov equalizing just before halftime from the penalty spot. Despite missing a penalty early in the second half, Spain's Sergio Gómez redeemed himself by scoring the winning goal in the 62nd minute, earning Spain their first three points.

New Zealand edged out Guinea 2-1 in Group A, with Ben Waine scoring the decisive goal. Despite Guinea's Amadou Diawara equalizing in the 72nd minute, New Zealand quickly responded with Waine's goal, securing their fourth Olympic appearance with a win. The OlyWhites, who reached the quarterfinals in the Tokyo Games, demonstrated their resilience and determination to advance in the tournament.

Egypt and the Dominican Republic played to a scoreless draw in Group C. The match saw Peter Gonzalez's apparent goal for the Dominican Republic disallowed due to a foul, while Egypt, the most frequent African participant in the Olympics, couldn't break the deadlock despite their extensive experience. Egypt, captained by Mohamed Elneny, missed the presence of star player Mohamed Salah, who opted to focus on Liverpool's preseason.

In a commanding performance, Japan routed Paraguay 5-0 in Group D. Japan capitalized on Paraguay being reduced to 10 men when Wilder Vera was sent off following a VAR review. Shunsuke Mito opened the scoring for Japan in the 18th minute and added a second in the 63rd. Rihito Yamamoto and substitute Shota Fujio completed the scoring, with Fujio netting twice to secure the victory.

Iraq pulled off a 2-1 comeback win against Ukraine in Group B, with substitute Ali Jasim scoring the winner. Ukraine had taken the lead through Valentyn Rubchynskyi, but Iraq equalized quickly from the penalty spot, converted by Aymen Hussein. Ali's decisive goal in the 75th minute placed Iraq at the top of the group alongside Morocco, both with three points.

The opening matches of the Olympic football tournament have already delivered a rollercoaster of emotions, with dramatic comebacks, controversial decisions, and fan chaos marking the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating competition. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling encounters and unforgettable moments on the road to Olympic glory.

Reference:

https://www.espn.in/olympics/story/_/id/40631533/morocco-beat-argentina-amid-fan-invasion-chaos