Beat Nigeria 1-0 to win the gold medal:

Argentina retains soccer crown

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from China

OLYMPICS BEIJING, Aug.23 -Two-time FIFA World champions and defending Olympic champions Argentina edged out Nigeria by one goal to nil in the final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic football tournament final played at the National Stadium here today.

It was an exciting game which thrilled the capacity crowd with no scoring in the first half. It appeared to be a rematch of the men’s final of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. It was Argentina’s second successive Olympic soccer gold, having done so four years ago in Athens.

The elimination of Brazil in the semis made Argentina’s task easier and the team Buenos Aires was the better side in the early part of today’s first half. However, Nigeria began to threaten the South American team in the latter part.

Nigeria, which came to the final with that sweet memories of their 3-2 in the final win over Argentina in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic football final, carried out the first attack on goal when Peter Odemwingie fancied his chances and attempted a long-range shot in the sixth minute. The ball skidded through Argentina’s defensive wall, but the Argentine goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, was equal to the task.

Argentine captain Juan Riquelme received a free kick five minutes later from near the arc, but the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar. The African nation focused on defending against Argentine play makers Lionel Messi and Riquelme, ensuring that Argentina had no chance to launch an attack on goal in the opening minutes of the first half.

Odemwingie whipped the ball across the face of the box as Nigeria went on the offensive in the 35th minute, but the ball bounced off the unprepared Nigerian captain Promise Isaac.

With minutes away from the short whistle referee Viktor Kassai of Hungary, Argentine midfielder Angel Di Maria unleashed a great long-range shot that forced Vanzekin to make a diving leap to his right and tip the ball behind the line.

But Maria was successful in finding that match winning goal when the second half was only eight minutes old. Messi found an unmarked Di Maria who calmly chipped the ball over the fast-approaching Vanzekin and into the back of the net.

Nigeria tried hard to find that equaliser goal and almost snatched that when the ball bounced off Isaac’s toes in front of goal. However, Romero quickly cleared the ball from danger.

Argentina had another scored Nigerian Victor Anichebe, who came on in the 60th minute, almost scored a goal with his first touch of the game.

Romero, however, forced the Nigerian forward’s shot to dribble past the post.

Then came Argentina turn of scoring. Messi had a chance of extending their lead in the 77th minute, but the Nigerian defence stood firm.

Argentina’s passage to the final was an interesting one, having survived extra time pressure in the quarter final against the Netherlands.

The Dutch held the defending gold medallists to one-all by the full time but Argentina found that match winning goal in the extra time to scrape through 2-1.

In the semi finals, they had a convincing three goals to nil win over much fancied Brazil, the 2002 FIFA World Cup winners. In the other semi final, Nigeria beat Belgium by four goals to one.

In the play-off match for the third place of the Olympic football tournament, Brazil beat Belgium by three goals to nil to win the bronze medal at Shanghai Stadium last night. The winners led 2-0 at the breather.

Jo paved way for the great Brazilian victory with two goals while Diego scored once.