Morocco stunned Argentina with a 2-1 victory in their opening Group B encounter at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Wednesday.
Two goals by Soufiane Rahimi helped the North African side showcase resilience and tactical discipline to overcome the South American giants in a match filled with drama and excitement.
Morocco took the lead just before halftime when Rahimi found the back of the net in the 45th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Bilal El Khannouss.
Rahimi’s goal gave Morocco a crucial advantage heading into the break, setting the stage for a captivating second half.
The Atlas Lions doubled their lead early in the second half when Rahimi calmly converted a penalty in the 49th minute, following a VAR review that confirmed no foul in the buildup.
This two-goal cushion put Morocco in a strong position, but Argentina was not ready to back down.
Argentina pulled one back in the 68th minute through Giuliano Simeone, who scored with a well-placed effort.
The goal sparked a wave of Argentine attacks as they pressed for an equalizer. The pressure intensified in the closing stages, leading to a frantic finish.
In the dying moments of the game, Argentina thought they had equalized when Cristian Medina found the net in the 90th +16 minute.
However, VAR intervened once again, ruling out the goal for offside, much to the relief of the Moroccan fans.
The final whistle blew after a tense period of stoppage time, confirming Morocco’s historic victory over Argentina.
This win provides a significant boost for the Moroccan side as they aim to make a deep run in the tournament.
-CAF
