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 3 - 22 of 62

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  1. GO ARGENTINA!!!!! not

    From Ripster, on Tue 19 Aug 7:35PM

  2. bravo. we do it again. remember 1996 Atlanta. his must­ repeat.

    From Lotanna, on Tue 19 Aug 7:29PM

  3. It's gonna be now or never for Nigeria and I think­ that they will triumph.
    Argentina will be on a high­ from their win against Brazil plus they have pressure­ to retain their title while Nigeria is just here to­ have fun and hopefully win.

    Nigeria all the way!
    Go­ Eaglets!

    From E, on Tue 19 Aug 7:25PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Argentina will gift Nigeria a humiliating defeat and­ take revenge of 1996's final. Go ARGENTINA,­ massacre eagles!!!

    From adjj, on Tue 19 Aug 7:23PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Nigeria will be massacred by terrific ARGENTINA in­ final!!!

    From adjj, on Tue 19 Aug 7:11PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Nigeria will be massacred by terrific ARGENTINA in­ final!!!

    From adjj, on Tue 19 Aug 7:11PM

  7. I am very happy for Argentina. What a distorted truth.­ 5 times World Champions Brazil cannot win a single­ Olympic Title. What favours them ina Wolrd Cup­ Tournament is balanced by the Olympic tournament. In­ the World Cup they do ride their luck.
    But I think that­ the team that fared worst were the present World Cup­ Champions Italy.
    There seems to a mysterious way on how­ thing balance in the end. Their 2006 World Cup was a­ fluke without any shadow of a doubt.
    Good Luck­ Argentina!

    From LIPPU, on Tue 19 Aug 7:02PM

  8. I am very happy for Argentina. What a distorted truth.­ 5 times World Champions Brazil cannot win a single­ Olympic Title. What favours them ina Wolrd Cup­ Tournament is balanced by the Olympic tournament. In­ the World Cup they do ride their luck.
    But I think that­ the team that fared worst were the present World Cup­ Champions Italy.
    There seems to a mysterious way on how­ thing balance in the end. Their 2006 World Cup was a­ fluke without any shadow of a doubt.
    Good Luck­ Argentina!

    From LIPPU, on Tue 19 Aug 7:01PM

  9. go for gold boys you can always do it cos you've­ done it before. tjshow

    From SOETAN T, on Tue 19 Aug 6:50PM

  10. 11 men against 11 men, 90 minutes will judge, who knows­ what comes out of the game? anyway the better side gets­ the gold, as a patriotic citizen i wish nigerian team­ best of luck. pls boys no messing around be confident­ and go for the gold.

    From SOETAN T, on Tue 19 Aug 6:28PM

  11. When Nigeria is on, "she" is on, a team made­ of both Argentina and Brazil will not be skillful­ enough to stop the "Dream team 4" come­ Saturday A.M. Ask the Russians about the "Battle­ of Damman".

    From koyhong2, on Tue 19 Aug 5:58PM

  12. what is all this talk about revenge???? what i see is­ two teams who deserve thier place in the final and­ i'm praying that it turns to be a game without bad­ refeering and ill tackles....kudos to both teams!!!

    From dsoulbrother, on Tue 19 Aug 5:46PM

  13. go nigeria gold!!!

    From nthk8, on Tue 19 Aug 5:39PM

  14. that is ur dream luxy

    From akam, on Tue 19 Aug 5:38PM

  15. messi will make a mess in the final..nigeria to win­ 2-0!!

    From nthk8, on Tue 19 Aug 5:38PM

  16. Nanu_hari - you really are a cedit to your country :)

    From markbennett555, on Tue 19 Aug 5:28PM

  17. What a humiliation to Brazil! I had hoped the final to­ be Nigeria & Brazil so that history would be­ repeated as it did in Atlanta '96. Oh well, the­ tide has now shifted to Nigeria and Argentina for the­ olympic gold. If Nigeria will brace the final game with­ the sort of energy and determination they used to­ dominate Belgium this morning be rest assured the boys­ will have the last laugh. Go the SIASIA BOYS.

    From Uzondu-Roy, on Tue 19 Aug 5:24PM

  18. nanu_hari, shut'chew hole b4 I put'chew in one.­ Punk

    From Skippo, on Tue 19 Aug 5:14PM

  19. You stupid english peoples shut your ugly mouth shut­ and concentrate on yur useless EPL, it is going to be­ Argentina all the way.

    From Hairsh, on Tue 19 Aug 5:09PM

  20. Brazil never had a good start. Matter of fact they­ became too nervous in front of the South American­ Gauchos.

    As much as I used to be a brazil fan,­ I've started rooting for Argentina. I hope Belgium­ gets bronze

    From Manoramas, on Tue 19 Aug 4:49PM
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