Cristian Medina scored the equaliser within the sixteenth added minute as Argentina got here from two down to attract 2-2 with Morocco on the opening day of males’s Olympic soccer motion on Wednesday, whereas Spain edged Uzbekistan 2-1. Argentina want to win males’s soccer gold in Paris for the third time after earlier successes in 2004 and 2008, however Javier Mascherano’s facet seemed set to get off to a dropping begin in Saint-Etienne. They trailed 2-0 within the Group B recreation to a Soufiane Rahimi brace for Morocco however did pull one again by means of Giuliano Simeone earlier than Medina completed off a loopy transfer proper on the loss of life.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain full-back who is without doubt one of the largest names that includes within the event, arrange ahead Rahimi for the opener on the finish of a superb transfer in first-half stoppage time.
The reigning African Below-23 champions doubled their lead six minutes into the second half from the penalty spot, UAE-based ahead Rahimi stroking within the spot-kick after Ilias Akhomach was introduced down.
Argentina coach Mascherano, who starred within the groups that gained gold in Athens and Beijing, had at one level hoped to influence Lionel Messi to function among the many three permitted overage gamers in his squad in any other case restricted to these beneath 23.
Messi opted to not come to the Video games, and the largest names of their facet right here had been Manchester Metropolis striker Julian Alvarez and captain Nicolas Otamendi, the Benfica defender.
Simeone, son of former Argentina star Diego, got here off the bench to drag one again halfway by means of the second half, and Medina saved some extent within the 106th minute.
Otamendi’s shot was turned onto the bar by the goalkeeper and Bruno Amione headed the follow-up off the woodwork, however Medina was readily available to make it third time fortunate and safe a draw.
Group B rivals Iraq and Ukraine meet later in Lyon.
Gomez makes amends
Silver medallists in Tokyo three years in the past, Spain had been made to work exhausting to beat Uzbekistan of their Group C opener on the Parc des Princes in Paris.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among the many spectators watching a Spain facet that includes two members of their Euro 2024-winning squad in Alex Baena of Villarreal and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.
Spain went forward simply earlier than the half-hour mark when Sergio Gomez’s free-kick was helped on by Abel Ruiz to the again put up the place Marc Pubill turned the ball in.
Nevertheless, Uzbekistan had probabilities and drew stage from the penalty spot in first-half added time.
Pau Cubarsi was penalised for a foul within the field following a VAR evaluate, and Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov, the Roma ahead, transformed the penalty.
Cubarsi, the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy, had been booked early within the recreation and didn’t reappear for the second half.
Spain acquired a penalty of their very own for a foul on Aimar Oroz, however Gomez’s kick was saved by goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
Nevertheless, Gomez made up for that by grabbing what proved to be the winner simply after the hour mark.
Juan Miranda lower the ball again from the byline for Gomez — who has simply joined Actual Sociedad from Manchester Metropolis — to fireplace in.
Spain are in Group C with Egypt and the Dominican Republic.
The decide of Wednesday’s later video games will see hosts France face the USA in Marseille in Group A, with Thierry Henry’s workforce hoping to win a medal regardless of failing of their makes an attempt to enrol the companies of Kylian Mbappe.
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