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 23 - 42 of 62

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  1. Do you remmember the name Abedi Pele?

    From Mr.P, on Wed 20 Aug 12:23AM

  2. glad to see others remember mr weah, and also as an­ impartial i'd like to comment that man utd had no­ africans in there team and yet i believe they won a­ trophy or two last year!

    From d.papas, on Wed 20 Aug 12:18AM

  3. @ comment 38: world/europe footballer of the year­ '96...

    From iyke, on Wed 20 Aug 12:14AM

  4. Tommy Shin. clearly you dont remember George Weah? he­ won in 1995.

    From mblinga, on Wed 20 Aug 12:13AM

  5. Yo, I respect African players and i know theres a lot­ of good african footballers out there, but lets not go­ crazy and even try to put them in the same level as­ South American and European Footballers. Look at the­ global stars, maybe like 85 out of the top 100­ footballer stars are either South American or European,­ and you can say its a popularity contest, but its not­ really. When was the last time a african footballer won­ a Footballer of the Year for Europe? Never

    From tommyshin12, on Tue 19 Aug 11:45PM

  6. i guess nigeria are gona get mullered GO MASHA!

    From parry_vek, on Tue 19 Aug 11:22PM

  7. I know that this is a Global thing, but if you are­ going to comment in English make the effort to get it­ right. It is mildly amusing, but if you are going to­ use the foremost language in the world have a little­ respect.

    From nate, on Tue 19 Aug 11:12PM

  8. It is rather unfortunate that someone is commenting on­ the age of the nigerians without realising that the­ greatest cheats in the world of sports today are the­ whites who cheats on virtually everything especially­ taking enhancing drugs to facilitate easy wins.The­ issue of today is nigeria's white washing of­ Belgium and the reducing of mighty Brazil by Argentina­ to nothing.ln the game of football the world over­ Africans are making their presence felt and nobody can­ dispute that.The greatest clubs in the world today will­ win no trouphy without the presence of African­ players.Please we deserve respect and we should be duly­ accorded that respect.Nigeria is for gold and the gold­ is for all Africa.

    From TONY, on Tue 19 Aug 10:54PM

  9. Well done for both Argentina and Nigeria. But I­ don't trust the age of African players.Most of them­ r above 26 (even more). That's why they r always­ good in olympics or youth competition.

    From daveibra, on Tue 19 Aug 10:29PM

  10. i am a big fan of messi but on the final match i guess­ i wont be on his side as a patriotic nigerian.GO SIASIA­ GO DREAM TEAM4. victor

    From Victor, on Tue 19 Aug 10:21PM

  11. i am a big fan of messi but on the final match i guess­ i wont be on his side as a patriotic nigerian.GO SIASIA­ GO DREAM TEAM4. victor

    From Victor, on Tue 19 Aug 10:21PM

  12. I have to give kudos to Nigeria and Agentina for making­ it to the final surly they are the better side. come on­ saturday i want the the dream team to win because they­ have being dreaming since 1996 after winning the­ Argentina in Atlanta to win again so go for the goal­ Asia is known as favorite place for Africa in winning­ medals God bless dream team. The gold medal is for­ Africa God bless Africa

    From David, on Tue 19 Aug 10:01PM

  13. Argentina will be massacred by Nigeria ,they will just­ repeat what they did in 1996 .Nigeria will humiliate­ Argentina.
    Go Nigeria!!!

    From karol, on Tue 19 Aug 9:43PM

  14. i love the guy called messi because he has no mercy for­ anyone. Adeleye i believe in you so much pls dont allow­ what happen at the under 17 to repeat itself, u are a­ man of honour pls try and cordinate the defence line.­ ultimate siasia u are the best coach nigeria has ever­ produced and i can see that u belief in the saying that­ says different stick for diff horses, so we need u to­ it

    From klerry, on Tue 19 Aug 9:29PM

  15. i'm a big fun for messi, but it doesn't give­ the AGT the Gold Medal, even before the olympic get­ started, i bet my $1,000usd only with my close friend,­ that the men football olympic Gold medal is for Nigeria­ Eaglet and it must surlly to come to real not a dream­ anymore. Bravoooooo Eaglet and best of Luck in the­ final Game on saturday.

    From macbeth_e, on Tue 19 Aug 8:24PM

  16. Argentina should now win 2010 in South Africa

    From Tamimi, on Tue 19 Aug 8:17PM

  17. i am a hairy willy

    From marc m, on Tue 19 Aug 8:04PM

  18. Nairaland Dream Team 4. Congratulations. We have come,­ we have won and we shall conquer. No hard feelings. The­ job is not over yet not until the final whistle from­ the FIFA referee. We pray they officiate "FAIR­ PLAY". No miracle apart from the "MIRACLE OF­ DAMMAN". The Argentines are good but we could­ prove we are stonger and better if and only if we win­ the GOLD medal. Go for gold. This is our world cup. No­ shaking. Carry go one time.

    From Abami Eda, on Tue 19 Aug 7:40PM

  19. im only joking! i support nobody in olympic football­ really

    From Ripster, on Tue 19 Aug 7:37PM

  20. GO ARGENTINA!!!!! not

    From Ripster, on Tue 19 Aug 7:36PM
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