Spain and Japan have already reached the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s football tournament after only four days and two matchdays. Both teams have a 100pc record of two wins from two matches in their respective groups. Hosts France are poised to join them after also winning their initial matches.
La Rojita followed up their opening Group C victory over Uzbekistan with a 3-1 win over the 10 men of Dominican Republic.
Coach Santi Denia’s team went ahead in the 24th minute through midfielder Fermin Lopez but complacently allowed the Games newcomers a surprise equaliser through Angel Montes de Oca. Spain regained control after Dominican Republic were reduced to 10 men by a first-half red card for the Las Vegas Lights midfielder Edison Azcona.
Alejandro Baena restored the lead and Miguel Gutierrez wrapped up victory and progress with a third from close range.
Group C’s other match saw Uzbekistan crash out of their first Olympics after a 1-0 loss to Egypt in Nantes on a goal by Ahmed Koka.
Japan followed Spain into the quarter-finals by defeating Mali 1-0 in Group D in Bordeaux but they cut it fine. The Samurai Blue had to wait until the 82nd minute before Rihito Yamamoto provided what proved the winner but only after Mali’s Cheickna Doumbia fired a stoppage-time penalty wide.
Paraguay, in the other group game, beat Israel 4-2 with two late goals.
Hosts France made it two wins out of two with a late Group A victory over Guinea courtesy of a headed goal from Kiliann Sildillia.
Guinea had the better of the first half. Naby Keita and Abdoulaye Toure had ‘goals’ disallowed and Ilaix Moriba had a header cleared off the line by Castello Lukeba. Thierry Henry’s France improved after the break and substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo hit a post before Sildillia converted a cross from Michael Olise.
United States recovered from their opening defeat by France to keep their hopes of progress alive with a 4-1 win over New Zealand.
Group B action saw Argentina return to winning ways with a 3-1 defeat of Iraq in Lyon to recover from their chaotic opening loss to Morocco. An appeal to FIFA against that result was rejected before the victory over Iraq lifted Argentina top of the table on goal difference in any case.
Javier Mascherano’s team opened the scoring after 14 minutes thanks to a Thiago Almada volley but Iraq equalised with Aymen Hussein’s header seconds before halftime.
Substitute Luciano Gondou restored Argentina’s lead before a superb strike by Ezequiel Fernandez six minutes from time secured all three points for the 2004 and 2008 gold medallists. Mascherano said: “It was a difficult match. Iraq are a physically strong team. The only thing we needed to do was win so it’s a great relief.”
Ukraine, despite being reduced to 10 men, claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over Morocco in Saint-Etienne thanks to Ihor Krasnopir’s late winner.
Credit: AIPS Media
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