PARIS: Argentina bounced back from the chaos of an opening defeat in Olympic men’s football to beat Iraq 3-1 on Saturday as Spain and Japan became the first teams to advance to the quarter-finals.
Two-time gold medalists Argentina kicked off their Games campaign with a 2-1 defeat by Morocco in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday in a match marred by the crowd.
The South Americans were denied a late equalizer and the final minutes were played in an empty stadium after stoppage time.
However, Javier Mascherano’s side claimed their first win in Group B on Saturday and the result, coupled with Ukraine’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Morocco in Saint-Etienne, means all four teams in the section are now level on three points.
Argentina went ahead in the 14th minute in Lyon when Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez put away Thiago Almada’s ball to fire home.
Iraq equalized in first-half stoppage time when captain Aymen Hussein rose to head home.
But Argentina went back in front just after the hour mark. Luciano Gondou had barely been on the pitch for two minutes before he appeared at the back post to head home an encouraging cross.
The third goal came five minutes in after Kevin Zenon laid the ball back for Boca Juniors’ Ezequiel Fernandez to turn in from close range.
“We have to look forward and focus on what we can control, which is playing football. That’s what I suggested we play better football,” Mascherano said as he refused to dwell on the Morocco debacle.
Morocco surprised Ukraine with a commanding strike in the 98th minute to grab victory as Oleh Fedor set up Ihor Krasnopir to score from close range.
Ukraine took the lead midway through the first half through Dmytro Kryskiv, but found themselves in trouble when Volodymyr Saliuk pulled down Soufiane Rahimi in the box on the hour mark.
Saliuk’s yellow card was upgraded to a red after a review and Rahimi converted the penalty, his third goal of the tournament to make it 1-1.
Morocco then pushed for the winner with an extra man as Ukraine grabbed the points.
In the final round of group matches on Tuesday, Argentina will face Ukraine and Morocco will face Iraq.
Spain have already advanced to the last eight after claiming their second win in as many Group C matches as the Tokyo silver medalists beat the Dominican Republic 3-1 in Bordeaux.
Fermin Lopez gave them the lead but the Dominican Republic debutants surprisingly equalized in the 38th minute when Angel Montes de Oca headed in a corner.
However, they were reduced to 10 men at the first half break when captain Edison Azcona was given his marching orders for a kick at Pau Cubarsi.
Spain added extras after the break when Alex Baena’s deflected strike restored their lead before substitute Miguel Gutierrez made his mark in the 70th minute.
Spain’s passage to the last 16 was secured after Egypt beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Nantes, with Ahmed Koka scoring the only goal early on.
Thierry Henry’s France side made it two wins from two in Group A by beating Guinea 1-0 in Nice, with Freiburg full-back Kiliann Sildillia heading in Michael Olis’ cross in the 75th minute.
France have yet to advance from Group A, in which the United States beat New Zealand 4-1 in Marseille in the second leg.
The host nation still need a point against New Zealand on Tuesday to ensure progress.
Japan, winners of this year’s Asian Under-23 Cup, booked their place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic 1-0 win against Mali in Bordeaux.
Rihito Yamamoto grabbed the only goal in the 82nd minute, although Mali had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot deep into injury time.
After a VAR review, a free kick was awarded for the handball, but Cheickna Doumbia tried to cross. Also in Group D, Paraguay scored twice in stoppage time to beat Israel 4-2 in an entertaining match in Paris, with Marcelo Fernandez’s brace sealing victory for the 2004 silver medalists.
