Beijing 2008 - Argentina outclass Brazil in semi

Eurosport - Wed, 20 Aug 09:27:00 2008

Argentina humiliated South American neighbours and rivals Brazil 3-0 to earn a place in the Olympic final against Nigeria.

FOOTBALL 2008 Beijing 2008 Argentina Argentina-Brazil Sergio Aguero Agüero Kun Juan Román Roman Riquelme Lionel Messi - 0

Two goals from Sergio Aguero and a Juan Riquelme penalty secured a deserved victory before a frustrated Brazilian side were reduced to nine men.

In a bad-tempered clash between the South American rivals, Brazil collected two late red cards, including one for midfielder Lucas for a lunge on his Liverpool team-mate Javier Mascherano nine minutes from the end.

Lucas was followed for an early bath by Thiago Neves for another foul on Mascherano three minutes later as Brazil's gold medal hopes evaporated at Beijing's Workers' Stadium.

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring when he chested home Angel Di Maria's cross with 52 minutes on the clock after a sedate first half.

Rafael Sobis then hit the post for Brazil but Aguero doubled the score when he touched in Ezequiel Garay's low cross.

Ronaldinho thumped the post with a free-kick before Alexandre Pato had a goal ruled out.

And Juan Roman Riquelme made it three with a penalty 14 minutes from the end before Brazil's discipline completely deserted them with the two late red cards.

Argentina will now meet Nigeria in a repeat of the 1996 final after the African side tore apart Belgium to win 4-1.

Olubayo Adefemi opened the scoring with a low drive after 16 minutes which Logan Bailly was unable to keep out.

Victor Anichebe set up Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi for the second just before the hour mark, and Obasi added his second in style 18 minutes from the end with a long-range effort.

And Chibuzor Okonkwo made it 4-0 with another long-range strike six minutes later, before Laurent Ciman's late consolation.

The Nigerians will now be hoping to repeat their famous win of 1996, when goals from Celestine Babayaro, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amunike secured a 3-2 triumph.

TEAMtalk / Eurosport

Comment 43 - 62 of 62

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  1. Go our dream team,u proved every one wrong,we know u­ can do it and win the Gold at lease 4 Siasa,is a man of­ honour,he believes in u guys,

    From demola_2002, on Thu 21 Aug 10:44AM

  2. no se,, todos estan celosos de argentina (??) y dsp­ vienen y nos dicen que somos agrandados (??)
    haha­ whatever!

    From daraxrckr, on Thu 21 Aug 5:41AM

  3. A-R-G-E-N-T-I-N-A (LLLLL)
    NIGERIA= DREAM TEAM?? hahaha­ LOL!
    Go Argentinaa!!

    From daraxrckr, on Thu 21 Aug 5:40AM

  4. A-R-G-E-N-T-I-N-A (LLLLL)
    NIGERIA= DREAM TEAM?? hahaha­ LOL!
    Go Argentinaa!!

    From daraxrckr, on Thu 21 Aug 5:40AM

  5. actually when it comes to final any of the team can win­ no one better than other before the match,in 1996 we­ know what happen,we don't know if history can­ repeat its self.any how we see on the final day.9ja­ 4life.

    From abubakar, on Thu 21 Aug 12:28AM

  6. i just realised this is de ja vu... consider this­ proposition.. three years ago in the U20 world cup­ finals ARG beat BRZ to meet Nigeria in the final which­ ARG won..Three years on... in the U23 tournament the­ same thing has happened :O just hope NGA go 1 better..­ Go NAIJA GO!!! Dream team XI all the way!

    From Chuk, on Wed 20 Aug 8:43PM

  7. To you who said an African player or footballer has­ never won a Footballer of the year for Europe? Am sure­ you are just new to football, if not you would have­ heard of someone called George Weah, he won the World­ footballer of the year, European footballer of the year­ and African Footballer of the year all in the same year­ (1995), thats an african player for you. Look for­ information and get your facts right before you start­ posting what you don't know.

    From ambipac, on Wed 20 Aug 5:27PM

  8. Everybody knows what Nijia can do when it comes to­ football, any way the world will see on saturday in­ China. Go for gold my DREAM TEAM IV.

    From asiborgreg, on Wed 20 Aug 11:05AM

  9. whatever u guys like u can use your discretion to write­ but i want to let u know that nigeria will play well­ against argentina and win the gold.remember that the­ present argentine team won against nigeria in under 20­ world cup when messi was given two penalties.dis is not­ goin to happen again and on saturday the world would­ stand still for nigeria as they will write their name­ on the plater of gold.for brazil i know they wont make­ any impact if not for luck that was against the­ cameroonians we wud be saying another thing by now.they­ should sit thight and live up to the expectation but­ they may win bronze if they could conquer belgium

    From chukwudinma, on Wed 20 Aug 10:23AM

  10. Although I am a fan of Messi, I had wanted Nigeria to­ meet Brazil in final. But, I sill believe­ saturday's final will be explosive. At the end of­ the day, Nigeria will come out triumph.

    From higgins, on Wed 20 Aug 9:46AM

  11. nigeria should not be looked down on doing so will be­ to the detriment of the Argies. Go for gold nigeria,­ the sky is your beginning

    From Christy, on Wed 20 Aug 9:22AM

  12. I like Brazil winning. But I also don't have­ anything against Argentina. But I really love african­ teams. So, Nigeria, prove the world (finally), that­ Africa not only has talent, but that it can also win!

    From dkovac, on Wed 20 Aug 9:19AM

  13. Go Nigerians!!! we are no match with the Argentines. We­ are the very best in football.The whole world at better­ accept that fact. Stand up for the champions!!!!

    From OPEYEMI, on Wed 20 Aug 9:06AM

  14. Nigerian players have to watch out for Mr Diver, Messy.­ Oh yeah, he knows how to dive for penalty. That's­ the only way nigeria can lose the final.

    From unzwa, on Wed 20 Aug 6:06AM

  15. Where's Nigeria. In the map it's in Africa. In­ football they are a team which can upset any Olympic­ football team. As I remember they won the under19 world­ cup too.

    From NadikeT, on Wed 20 Aug 5:59AM

  16. Nigeria?? Where's Nigeria??
    Go Argentinaa :D :D­ (LLLL)

    From Bombie, on Wed 20 Aug 4:40AM

  17. GANA ARGENTINA WACHINN

    From Bombie, on Wed 20 Aug 4:38AM

  18. After Pele's time, every time Brazil does not get a­ favoritism and the better treatment frm referees, like­ they got it all the way in the South Korea-Japan world­ cup, they never deliver. Argentina is the Italy of­ America, defending well and being efficient. Looking­ forward to an awesome final between Argentina and­ Nigeria.

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 20 Aug 3:42AM

  19. Nothing more to say than a big congrats to Argentina­ and Nigeria.Good job from both sides,especially the­ Argentinians,3-0 the Brazilians its not an easy­ task.Hoping for a great final bettewn them.
    Take care­ all of u.

    From blimberb, on Wed 20 Aug 3:38AM

  20. abedi pele never won european footballer of the year.­ weah is the only african to do that. But lets face it­ plenty of africans are up there with the best. Drogba,­ Eto'o, Muntari, Toure brother and the list goes­ on....

    From mblinga, on Wed 20 Aug 12:30AM
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