Paris 2024 Olympics: Morocco shock Argentina in men's football opener
The men’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 kicked off with a major upset with Morocco beating two-time Olympic champions Argentina 2-1 in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday (24 July).
The opening match was marred by controversy after a pitch invasion by fans interrupted play for almost two hours. The game was eventually resumed behind closed doors.
The match swung in Morocco’s favour courtesy of a Soufiane Rahimi brace on either side of the half-time break.
Rahimi first found the back of the net on the stroke of half-time before he doubled the lead with a penalty six minutes into the second half to give the Atlas Lions an unlikely 2-0 lead.
Giuliano Simeone reduced the deficit in the 68th minute but Argentina looked set for a shock defeat in their Olympic opener with the match extending deep into stoppage time.
Christian Medina appeared to score the equaliser in the 16th minute of added time, after which Moroccon fans invaded the pitch to protest the late goal.
The entire crowd was requested to leave the stadium while both teams remained at the venue. Players eventually returned to the pitch to finish the match and play three more minutes of added time.
Before play resumed, Medina's goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, and Morocooo managed to hold on for victory.
Argentina, who is fresh off winning a record 16th Copa America title, will take some comfort from their triumphant 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. The South Americans suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match of that tournament before they went on to lift the World Cup trophy.
