Olympics24 : Spain wins again , Argentina back to winning ways in soccer

 

Argentina has bounced back from a defeat to Morocco with a victory. They had lost their first match 1-2. In the second match, Argentina defeated Iraq 3-1. This win keeps Lionel Messi's team in the quarter-final contention in Olympic football.

From the start, Argentina played aggressively against Iraq. Coach Javier Mascherano fielded Julian Alvarez from the beginning, and the team reaped the benefits. In the 13th minute, Thiago Almada scored a goal from an Alvarez pass.

Even after taking the lead, Argentina did not reduce their attacks. Thiago and Cristian Medina continued to create opportunities. Iraq managed to counter the pressure and began to find their rhythm, firing a few shots at Argentina's goal, but they couldn't score. As the game neared halftime, Ayman Hussein shocked Argentina by scoring in injury time, leveling the score at 1-1.

From the beginning of the second half, Argentina continued to strive for a goal. The coach made a few substitutions, increasing the pace of Argentina's game. They reaped the benefits when Luciano Gondou put Argentina ahead again in the 62nd minute with a goal from a Kevin Zenon pass.

Iraq tried to equalize after conceding the goal, but Argentina did not play defensively. As Iraq played open football, Argentina got more opportunities. In the 84th minute, Ezequiel Fernandez scored the team's third goal, with Alvarez providing the assist. Iraq could not make a comeback after trailing 1-3 and had to leave the field with a loss.

In the first match, Argentina had lost due to a referee's decision. Moroccan players caused disruptions by entering the field before the match ended, leading to a nearly two-hour suspension of play. After the match resumed, the referee disallowed Argentina's goal, a decision Mascherano criticized. Putting that controversy aside, Argentina has now returned to winning ways.

Spain marches on 

Spain triumphed in Olympic football, defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 on Saturday. This victory moves the Euro Cup winners one step closer to the Olympic quarterfinals.

From the start of the game, Spain dominated. They controlled the ball and earned three free kicks within the first seven minutes, although they couldn't convert them into goals. In the 14th minute, Abel Ruiz took the first shot on goal after receiving the ball from Sergio Gomez but failed to score.

Spain took the lead in the 24th minute. Fermín López struck a powerful right-footed shot from near the penalty spot that found the back of the net. After the first goal, Spain continued their relentless attacks but couldn't score again. Instead, they conceded a goal in the 38th minute when Montes de Oca scored with a header from an Azcona corner, equalizing the game for the Dominican Republic. Azcona was shown a red card in stoppage time of the first half.

Spain regained the lead ten minutes into the second half. Alex Baena's shot from the right side of the box deflected off an opposing defender and went into the goal. The third goal came in the 70th minute, scored by Gutiérrez. Despite creating more chances, Spain couldn't extend their lead further.