Argentina U23 3-1 Iraq U23: Albiceleste bounce back from Olympics opening loss

Game is over and the final score is Argentina U23 3-1 Iraq U23. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Argentina got their Group B campaign at the Olympics up and running with a 3-1 victory over Iraq, with Thiago Almada, Luciano Gondou and Ezequiel Fernandez scoring.

Javier Mascherano's side made a losing start against Morocco on Wednesday, going down by a 2-1 scoreline in a chaotic match that featured almost 20 minutes of second-half stoppage time and a two-hour delay due to crowd trouble.

They bounced back against Iraq despite Aymen Hussein cancelling out Almada's opener, with Gondou and Fernandez on target in the second half in a deserved victory.

Argentina hit the front after 14 minutes as Julian Alvarez improvised to chest a deflected cross down to Almada, who lashed into the bottom-left corner on the volley. 

But Iraq grew into the contest and got their reward five minutes into first-half stoppage time, Hussein getting across his marker to nod Ahmed Maknzi's cross into the far corner.

Argentina were in the ascendency throughout the second half, though, restoring their lead shortly after the hour mark. Iraq goalkeeper Hussein Hasan got caught under Kevin Zenon's cross as Gondou headed home at the far post.

They wrapped up the points when Fernandez scored the pick of the goals with five minutes remaining, the midfielder curling a left-footed shot into the top-left corner after clever play from Almada and Zenon.

The Albiceleste, Iraq and Morocco are now all level on three points with one game remaining, with Ukraine pointless ahead of facing the Atlas Lions later on Saturday.

Line-ups

Argentina U23 XI: Otamendi, Gerónimo Rulli, Thiago Almada, Julián Álvarez, Cristian Medina, Lucas Beltrán, Ezequiel Fernández, Joaquín García, Santiago Hezze, Marco Di Césare, Julio Soler

Subs: Bruno Amione, Leandro Brey, Kevin Zenón, Luciano Gondou, Giuliano Simeone, Gonzalo Luján, Claudio Echeverri

Iraq U23 XI: Aymen Hussein, Ibrahim Bayesh, Youssef Amyn, Ahmed Hasan, Mustafa Saadoon, Zaid Tahseen, Hussein Hasan, Ali Jasim, Nihad Muhammad, Karrar Al-Mukhtar, Hussein Amer Ojaimi

Subs: Muntadher Mohammed, Hussein Ali, Montader Abdel Amir, Josef Al-Imam, Karrar Saad, Hussein Lawend, Kumel Al-Rekabe