Spain, Japan Into Knockouts, Argentina Bounce Back In Olympic Football

Argentina bounced back from the chaos of their opening defeat in the Olympic men's football to beat Iraq 3-1 on Saturday, while Spain and Japan became the first teams through to the quarter-finals. Two-time gold medallists Argentina began their campaign at the Games with a 2-1 defeat by Morocco on Wednesday in Saint-Etienne in a match marred by crowd trouble. The South Americans had a late equaliser disallowed and the final minutes took place in an empty stadium following the disruption.

However, Javier Mascherano's side registered their first win in Group B on Saturday and the result, coupled with Ukraine's last-gasp 2-1 victory over Morocco in Saint-Etienne, means all four teams in the section are now level on three points.

Argentina went ahead on 14 minutes in Lyon when Manchester City's Julian Alvarez laid the ball off for Thiago Almada to fire in.

Iraq drew level in first-half stoppage time as captain Aymen Hussein rose to head home.

But Argentina went back ahead just after the hour mark. Luciano Gondou had been on the pitch barely two minutes when he appeared unmarked at the back post to head in an inviting cross.

The third goal came five minutes from time as Kevin Zenon laid the ball back for Ezequiel Fernandez, of Boca Juniors, to curl in from range.

"We need to look forward and focus on what we can control, which is playing football. That is what I suggested we do, play the better football," said Mascherano as he refused to revisit the Morocco debacle.

France on verge of quarters

Morocco were caught by a 98th-minute sucker punch against Ukraine, who grabbed the victory when Oleh Fedor set up Ihor Krasnopir to score from close range.

Ukraine had gone ahead midway through the first half through Dmytro Kryskiv