Argentina opens Olympic campaign with a win

Lionel Messi (L) of Argentina and teammate celebrate after scoring a goal. (Photo credit: Pei Xin/Xinhua)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, August 7) -- Lionel Messi's goal and assist helped Argentina become the only winner in the second set of four first round matches in the Olympic Men's Football competition. The reigning Olympic gold medalist beat Cote d'Ivoire 2-1.

The first goal came late in the first half when Juan Riquelme's pass penetrated to find Messi in a position that looked close to being off-side, but the flag was not raised and Messi coolly slotted past the Ivoirian goalkeeper Vincent Angban to score.

Though Sekou Cisse's goal in the 52nd minute helped Cote d'Ivoire level the score, Argentina grabbed a chance in the 86th minute to score the winning goal. Argentina took a quick free kick and Riquelme fed the ball to Messi, whose shot was pushed out by Angban but the ball was then tapped into the net by Laurato Acosta.

The other three group matches ended in draws. China drew with ten-man New Zealand 1-1, the Republic of Korea drew 1-1 with Cameroon, and the match between the Netherlands and Nigeria resulted in a goalless draw.

In the match between New Zealand and China, New Zealand's Jeremy Brockie scored a goal in the 53rd minute, while Dong Fangzhuo's long-range header in the 88th minute saved China from an embarrassing loss.

A goal in the 68th minute by Park Chu-young of the Republic of Korea broke the deadlock between his team and Cameroon, but Cameroon fought back with an equalizer from Georges Mandjeck in the 81st minute.