ARGENTINA crushed Brazil in one of football’s most combustible rivalries yesterday to reach the Olympic final where they will play against African giants Nigeria, who sauntered past Belgium.
The defending champions, inspired by Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi who outshone AC Milan’s Ronaldinho, upset their South American neighbours with a brace from Sergio Aguero and penalty by captain Juan Riquelme.
It means that Brazil, despite being five-time World Cup winners, must wait another four years for a chance to win their first Olympic gold after coming up short twice before in final appearances in 1984 and 1988.
Atletico Madrid’s Aguero broke the deadlock seven minutes after the interval when Angel Di Maria’s pass appeared to strike his upper arm and flew into the net. Aguero scored his second five minutes later when Messi released defender Pablo Zabaleta on the right and his pass was slotted home from close range.
Goal-den celebration: Nigeria's Chinedu Ogbuke Obas(centre) celebrates with team-mate Chibuzor Okonkwo (left) and Victor Obinna after scoring against Belgium during their semi-final match at the Shanghai Stadium.Nigeria won 4-1.-AFP
Riquelme killed off the game with a 76th minute penalty after Aguero was brought down by Bayern Munich defender Breno.
It was a wretched night for the Brazilians at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing with Liverpool midfielder Lucas and substitute Thiago Neves both sent off for ugly fouls on Javier Mascherano late in the second-half.
Goal-hero Aguero said: “This was like a final for us. Beating Brazil is the best thing.”
Liverpool’s Mascherano, the captain, added that while the win was fantastic nothing had been achieved yet.
“It was the greatest game for everyone and fortunately we managed to win it. We haven’t achieved anything yet, but beating Brazil with a result like this is wonderful,” he said.
In Shanghai, 1996 Atlanta Olympic champions Nigeria proved too big a hurdle for Belgium, comfortably winning 4-1.
Olubayo Adefemi opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi netted a brace before Chibuzor Okonkwo hammered the final nail in Belgium’s coffin. Substitute Laurent Ciman pulled one back in the dying minutes but it was too little too late.
Nigeria’s ecstatic coach Samson Siasia said: “It was unbelievable. You just have to look at the scoreboard. We are going for gold.”
The Nigerians, with the inherited experience of six Olympics, pressed the attack and a sustained pressure resulted in the opener. The Belgian defence failed to clear the ball and it fell to Adefemi inside the box and he slotted it underneath the diving Logan Bailly.
The Africans got the all-important second goal after 59 minutes, but they were fortunate as Ogbuke Obasi looked to be offside when Everton’s Victor Anichebe fed him the ball.
The match was put beyond doubt with 18 minutes remaining when Obinna laid off the ball to a rampaging Ogbuke Obasi, who hit a powerful strike from 25m that gave Bailly no chance.
A long-range effort from Okonkwo in the 78th minute added to Belgium’s misery. – AFP
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