PeakNews Online
The Paris Olympics 2024 kicked off with a thrilling football encounter as Argentina staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Morocco in their Group B opener but the goal was ruled offside to give Morocco their first win.
The match was highly anticipated, with both teams showing impressive form leading up to the tournament. Morocco, led by PSG star Achraf Hakimi, started strong, providing an exhilarating end-to-end game from the onset. Their aggressive play paid off late in the first half when Sofiane Rahimi scored from close range, capitalizing on a low-driven cross from the right flank.
Early in the second half, Rahimi doubled Morocco’s lead with a penalty, putting Argentina on the back foot. However, the introduction of experienced players like Julian Alvarez rejuvenated the World Champions. Argentina’s relentless pressure bore fruit when Simeone reduced the deficit with a tap-in finish.
As the match extended into 15 minutes of added time due to injuries, Argentina’s persistence was rewarded. In a dramatic turn of events as Medina capitalized on a rebound off the crossbar, heading home the equalizer in the dying moments but it was ruled offside after Moroccan fans protested the goal.
In other Olympic football news, EURO champions Spain began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Marc Pubill opened the scoring for Spain before Eldor Shomurodov equalized for Uzbekistan from the penalty spot. Despite Sergio Gomez missing a penalty, he redeemed himself minutes later, securing Spain’s lead with a successful spot-kick.
Spain, aiming for their first men’s football gold since 1992, will next face the Dominican Republic on July 27, while Uzbekistan will take on Egypt.
Joe
