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Olympic Football (Soccer)Recaps: 24 July - Day 5

Men's Football -- Match 17, Group A

USA vs. POR

Portugal Eliminates the United States in Men's Football:

A record crowd was present Wednesday night in Washington, D.C. to spur on the United States in their final preliminary match in men's Olympic football. But Portugal (1-0-2) spoiled USA's chances of advancing in the Olympic tournament as the match ended in a 1-1 tie. Coupled with a tie between Argentina and Tunisia, the U.S. squad, which needed a victory over Portugal, once again found itself exiting the Olympic tourney after the first round.

A record 58,012 -- the most for any sporting event held at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium -- watched a more experienced Portuguese team hold the U.S. team at bay. Paulo ALVES ran through the heart of the U.S. defense in the 33rd minute to give Portugal a first-half lead. USA tied the score when A.J. WOOD and Brian MAISONNEUVE teamed for a goal in the 70th minute. Portugal, making its first Olympic Football appearance since 1928, advances to quarterfinal play, facing France Saturday night in Miami, Fla. Final Score: USA 1, POR 1.


Men's Football -- Match 18, Group A

ARG vs. TUN

Argentina Advances in Men's Olympic Football:

Despite giving up a goal with 15 minutes remaining that resulted in a 1-1 tie, Argentina will advance to the quarterfinals of men's Olympic football. Tunisia's Mohamed MKACHER headed in a corner kick with 15 minutes left which tied the football co-favorite on Wednesday night at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Both Argentina (1-0-2) and Portugal (1-0-2) advance from the Group A field. Argentina will face defending Olympic champion Spain in Saturday's (27 July) quarterfinal match at Legion Field.

Ariel ORTEGA converted Diego SIMONE's free kick in the 6th minute to give Argentina an early 1-0 lead on Wednesday. Tunisia (0-2-1) recovered from Argentina's quick start and dominated play for long stretches. Tunisia went on the offensive, outshooting Argentina 7-3 in the first half. The Tunisians had a goal disallowed in the 34th minute when Adel SLIMI was ruled offsides after drilling a shot past goalkeeper Pablo CAVALLERO. The Tunisians finally broke through with MKACHER's header in the 75th minute. Rain delayed the kickoff as a crowd of 16,826 braved the wet weather. Final Score: ARG 1, TUN1.


Men's Football -- Match 19, Group B

ESP vs. AUS

GONZALEZ Rallies Spain to Olympic Football Victory Over Australia:

Raul GONZALEZ, a Spanish pro league star, scored two goals Wednesday night in leading Spain from a two-goal deficit to a 3-2 victory over Australia in men's Olympic Group B football. The victory advanced Spain, the defending Olympic gold medalist, to a Saturday (27 July) showdown with co-favorite Argentina in Birmingham, Ala.

Australia, which will host the next Olympic Games, were only five minutes away from advancing to the quarterfinals. GONZALEZ scored the decisive goal in the 93rd minute -- three minutes into injury time -- on a header off a pass from Ivan de la PENA. Just 7 minutes earlier, Santiago DENIA kicked in a rebound to complete the comeback from a 2-0 deficit. Aurelio VIDMAR was Australia's offensive weapon, scoring twice in the first 11 minutes. But he failed to convert two opportunities early in the second half while Peter TSEKENIS missed a header that would have broken the 2-2 tie in the 90th minute. Final Score: ESP 3, AUS 2.


Men's Football -- Match 20, Group B

KSA vs. FRA

France Beats Saudi Arabia to Advance in Men's Football:

The crowd may have been small, but the win for France was big as Antoine SIBIERSKI helped his team to a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia (0-3-0) in men's Olympic football. An announced crowd of 5,327 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. watched as France (2-0-1) advanced to the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament. France and Spain, both advancing to the quarterfinal round, tied for the top spot in Group B. The French team, which will face Portugal (1-0-2) on Saturday in Miami, received first place on goal differential. SIBIERSKI scored from 18 yards in the 49th minute to give France the lead and eventual win. He took Vikash DHORASOO's cross from near the end line and scored the tie-breaker.

France outshot Saudi Arabia 12-4 in the first period, but managed a 1-1 tie. Frenchman Florian MAURICE scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute on a penalty kick. Fuad Anwar AMIN tied the score in the 26th minute with a sliding 20-yard kick that got past France's Lionel LETIZI. France held a 4-2 shots-on-goal advantage in the second half. Final Score: FRA 2, KSA 1.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.