Argentina got its Olympic men’s soccer campaign back on track by beating Iraq 3-1 on Saturday in Lyon.
Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favorites, suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Morocco in its Group B opening game marred by a pitch invasion from Moroccan fans and a two-hour delay.
While Iraq threatened to pull off another surprise when Aymen Hussein leveled the game in first-half stoppage time, goals from Luciano Gondou and Ignacio Fernandez sealed victory for Argentina.
Thiago Almada, who Argentina coach Javier Mascherano said had a watch stolen when the team’s training base was robbed earlier this week, opened the scoring with a volley in the 14th minute at Stade de Lyon.
But Hussein’s header in the fifth minute of first half-time added time evened the game before the break.
Gondou’s far-post header in the 62nd restored Argentina’s lead and Fernandez curled in a long-range shot from the edge of the box in the 85th.
The win leaves Argentina level with Iraq and Morocco on three points. Morocco was playing Ukraine in a later kick off.
___
AP Soccer Writer James Robson contributed to this report.
___
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
