Paris: FIFA World Cup and Copa America champions Argentina fell to a shock defeat against Morocco on Wednesday, 24 July in their first match of the Paris Olympics. Chaos ensued in the field after Moroccan supporters razed the pitch when Argentina’s Cristian Medina scored a last-gasp goal to salvage what looked like a 2-2 draw.
Fans invaded the pitch and stopped play as confusion reigned on the first day of action in Group B of the men’s football tournament. After order was restored in Saint-Etienne and the teams had left the field, they discovered that the match had not been completed but suspended by officials.
The venue manager told Reuters the game had been interrupted and had not resumed yet, adding that a decision about whether the match would be completed was being discussed.
The teams re-emerged into an empty stadium about two hours later, where the referee called in the teams to disallow Argentina’s last-gasp goal, handing Morocco the win in their first game.
The gold medal winners in 2004 and 2008 were not at their best despite lining up with recent Copa America winners Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Otamendi and Geronimo Rulli.
Soufiane Rahimi put Morocco ahead after Achraf Hakimi set him up from the right following a superb passing move in the final seconds of the first half. Rahimi doubled the advantage and netted his second from the penalty spot in the 49th minute before Giuliano Simeone pulled one back for Javier Mascherano’s side in the 68th.
