Watch Argentina U23 vs Morocco U23 full match replay and highlight. This is a match of FIFA Olympic Football 2024, Group B Matchday 1.
Kick off: 13:00 GMT Wednesday Jul 24, 2024.
Referee: Glenn Nyberg, Sweden.
Venue: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Ètienne.
Argentina Faces Setback After Disallowed Equaliser Against Morocco in Olympic Football Thriller
Argentina, one of the favourites to win the men’s Olympic football tournament, faced a dramatic and controversial setback as their 106th-minute equaliser against Morocco was disallowed over two hours after the goal was initially scored. This decision has left the Albiceleste’s hopes of avoiding a third consecutive group-stage elimination at the Games in jeopardy.
First Half: Intense but Goalless Start
The match, held at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, began at a breakneck pace, but neither team managed a shot on target in the first 30 minutes. Argentina’s captain, Nicolás Otamendi, came close with a header from Thiago Almada’s free-kick, but it went wide. Morocco also had a near miss when goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi almost lost the ball while playing out from the back. The game’s first real chance saw Ilias Akhomach force Argentina’s Gerónimo Rulli to punch clear. The deadlock was broken right before halftime, with Akhomach’s backheel setting up Bilal El Khannouss, whose low cross was turned home by Soufiane Rahimi.
Second Half: Morocco Doubles Their Lead
Morocco extended their lead soon after the break, thanks to Akhomach’s brilliance. He drew a foul from Julio Soler, and Rahimi converted the resulting penalty to double his tally. Argentina’s coach, Javier Mascherano, made tactical changes, bringing on Giuliano Simeone, while Morocco substituted Akhomach for Abde Ezzalzouli. Ezzalzouli quickly made an impact, setting up Rahimi for a potential hat-trick, which was squandered. This missed chance became significant when Soler’s cross was converted by Simeone, reducing the deficit and setting up a thrilling finish.
Controversial Ending: Disallowed Equaliser and Delayed Conclusion
Munir denied Julián Álvarez in normal time, and an additional 15 minutes were signaled due to a bad-tempered second half. Argentina seemed to have equalized in the 106th minute when Cristian Medina scored after hitting the bar twice. However, Moroccan fans invaded the field in protest, believing the goal should be disallowed for a foul. The match was delayed, and after a review, referee Glenn Nyberg confirmed that Medina’s goal was offside, leading to the game’s conclusion behind closed doors.
Aftermath and Upcoming Matches
This controversial decision means Argentina remains winless and must regroup quickly as they prepare to face Iraq on Saturday. Meanwhile, Morocco, buoyed by their hard-fought victory, will take on Ukraine the same day. Argentina, two-time winners of the Olympic men’s football tournament, will need a strong performance to keep their hopes alive in the competition.