TOKYO – Facundo Medina scored the only goal as Argentina responded to a shock 2-0 loss to Australia in their opener with a comfortable 1-0 victory over Egypt at the Sapporo Dome on Sunday.
France, meanwhile, got their Olympic men’s soccer campaign back on track as Teji Savanier netted a stoppage-time winner in their 4-3 victory over South Africa also on Sunday while defending champions Brazil were held to a goalless draw by Côte d’Ivoire, Reuters reported.
Les Bleus, hammered 4-1 by Mexico in their Group A opener, trailed 3-2 with 10 minutes left but striker Andre-Pierre Gignac converted an 86th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick before Savanier’s late goal.
Playing with 10 men for most of the game, Brazil held the Côte d’Ivoire to a 0-0 draw on Sunday in the group stage of the men’s Olympic soccer tournament, AP reported.
Brazil is the defending Olympic champion after winning on home soil at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
But the Brazilians were at a disadvantage early when Douglas Luiz, who plays for Aston Villa, was sent off in the 13th minute.
Côte d’Ivoire midfielder Eboue Kouassi was sent off in the 79th.
Both Luiz and Kouassi won’t be able to play in their teams’ final group matches.
The Brazilians won their Group D opener over Germany 4-2. Richarlison scored a hat trick. Côte d’Ivoire midfielder Franck Kessie scored the winner in his team’s opening 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Brazil captain Dani Alves, at 38, is the oldest player in the tournament, which features under-23 teams on the men’s side with coaches allowed to bring three older players.
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