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[#29] Italy : Argentina = 0 : 3 
24 aug 2004 ATHENS /Karaiskaki Stadium  
  
Argentina breeze past Italy to close in on gold (3:0) 

Goals Scored: TEVEZ Carlos (ARG) 16 ' , GONZALEZ Luis (ARG) 69 ' , GONZALEZ Mariano (ARG) 84 '  

Argentina moved within 90 minutes of Olympic gold tonight after booking their places in the Final of the Men's Olympic Football Tournament. In yet another emphatic display of assured football, the Albicelestes saw off the challenge of Italy (3:0) to set up an all-South American final against Paraguay on Saturday.  
 

Goals by Carlos T?vez, Luis Gonz?lez and Mariano Gonz?lez gave Argentina another chance to win that elusive first gold exactly eight years after their last attempt ended in heartbreak in Atlanta. 

The game started at a frantic pace with both sides more intent on attacking than stifling their opponents. It was no surprise then that the goal scoring chances came thick and fast. Italy had the first good opportunity on 4 minutes when Pirlo took a quick free kick and found Daniele Bonera. The no.5 caught the Argentine defence off guard with his cross, but unfortunately there was no blue shirt in the area to meet it. 

Germ?n Lux then had to be at his sharpest to parry an Alberto Gilardino shot on six minutes, but it was the Albicelestes who were beginning to look more threatening. Moments later, Gabriel Heinze met Mauro Rosales's cross with a beautiful header and was unlucky to see it fly just inches wide of Pelizzoli's right post (8'). 

The capacity crowd at the Karaiskaki Stadium seemed to sense a goal was on the cards, and who better to rise to the challenge than Argentina's ace marksman Carlos T?vez. The Boca Juniors striker took up a great position in the heart of the area and picked up an inch perfect Mauro Rosales centre from the right. Matteo Ferrari tried in vain to clear the danger put only managed to tee it up for Tevez. From about ten yards out, the Argentinian no.10 volleyed home to break the resistance of the Italian defence (0:1; 16'). 
  
After the goal and the player's trademark celebration, the game entered a stand-off period with neither side willing to risk too much. Italy tried to play to the often languid pace of Pirlo, while the South Americans looked to Luis Gonz?lez and Andr?s D'Alessandro for inspiration. In the latter part of the first half, Italy came close with some high crosses and a well-struck Pirlo free kick (40), although they themselves looked vulnerable when first D'Alessandro (35') and then Cristian Gonz?lez (37') tested Pelizzoli with left-foot drives. 

Marcelo Bielsa's men looked determined to wrap up the tie early in the second half. D'Alessandro continued to be instrumental in the best moves up front and almost scored himself with a left-foot shot that deflected off Ferrari and went just wide of the right post (51'). Claudio Gentile's men were by then noticeably pushing men forward, but the Argentinian coach responded by reinforcing his defence with Clemente Rodr?guez. 

A quarter of an hour into the second half and Argentina were beginning to look a little nervy. Pirlo always looked the player most likely to score for the Europeans, but the AC Milan midfielder could find no way past Lux, even after being set up by Simona Del Nero (58'). Pirlo tried again five minutes later, but this time could only watch as his curling free kick flew just past the right post (63'). With Italy letting so many chances go begging the inevitable had to happen. 

The goal that effectively settled the tie came from a textbook Argentine counter-attack. Carlos T?vez picked up the ball in the middle of the park and skipped by two Italian defenders before heading towards goal. Just when it seemed he was about to go it alone he slid the ball through to Luis Gonz?lez, who hit a thunderous right-foot shot on the run into Pelizzoli's top corner (0-2; 69'). 

Italy tried to hit back but only managed to leave more space for the South Americans, and in particular Mariano Gonz?lez, to exploit. With his first touch of the ball, the midfielder finished off a sweeping Argentine move after Tevez broke free again down the right flank (0:3; 84'). "We were beaten by the best team in the tournament, everyone's favourite to take the gold. We knew they would punish us dearly for any mistakes we made, and that's exactly what happened. Argentina had all their players from their senior side out there," Gentile confessed afterwards. 

Marcelo Bielsa, for his part, said he was proud to have guaranteed a medal for his country, but he refrained from any premature celebrations. "We'd rather concentrate on what more we can achieve than on what we've already done to date. Both Paraguay and Iraq are dangerous sides, which is why we wouldn't like to say who we'd prefer in the final." 
 

 
[#30] Iraq : Paraguay = 1 : 3 
24 aug 2004 THESSALONIKI /Kaftanzoglio Stadium  

Paraguay shatter Iraq dreams (3:1) 
  
Goals Scored: CARDOZO Jose (PAR) 17 ' , CARDOZO Jose (PAR) 34 ' , BAREIRO Fredy (PAR) 68 ' , RAZZAQ FARHAN (IRQ) 83 '  

Paraguay won their first ever Olympic medal after a 3-1 victory over Iraq in their semi-final in Thessaloniki on Tuesday.  Clinical finishing from Jose Cardozo (2) and another from Fredy Bareiro underlined the South Americans' greater big-match experience and sets up a fascinating all-South American duel for gold with neighbours Argentina in Athens on Saturday.  Substitute Razzaq Farhan scored a late consolation for Iraq, who now meet Italy in the bronze-medal game on Friday.  

Iraq started off like a train.  With Emad Mohammed prominent down the right, they charged into the opposition dominating the early possession. But it was Paraguay, looking for a first final appearance in a major international competition, who had the first clear opening. Preying like a vulture on the penalty spot, Jose Cardozo picked up a cross from the right only to see his shot blocked well by goalkeeper Nour Sabri.   

Fast and skilful and direct, Emad's refreshing wing play was rendering Carlos Jara's early tactics impotent.  However it was the other winger, Hawar Mulla Mohammed, who had Iraq's almost identical opening two chances in the space of three minutes just before the quarter hour. After ferocious tackling, Hawar found himself bearing down on goal but, both times, chose to chip the ball over the advancing Diego Barreto without luck. 

The South Americans were under the cosh but they replied with a clinical strike from the irrepressible Cardozo to take the lead. Anticipating a flicked header, the Toluca striker raced through on goal, held off his marker and slotted the ball home (0-1, 17) 

Fired by their 1,000-strong band of noisy and colourful supporters, Iraq tore straight back in but their cavalier approach was not having much effect against the Albirrojo defence. Cardozo, 33, was a constant menace, showing off every day of his vast experience to take positional advantage when Iraq's players inevitably lost possession. 
  
Younis Mahmoud and Quai Munir went close for the Asians before Cardozo illegally had the ball in the net again on the half hour. Four minutes later though he doubled his and Paraguay's tally, running onto his own pass as Bassim Abbas naively stood calling for offside and finishing off sweetly left footed.  
Adnan Hamad's team were wearing the lucky green colours of the past two winners and if it were not for their poor finishing, you might say they were unfortunate to be two down. 

Emad had a good chance blocked before the break and after Mahmoud beat three men in one trick down the left, Qusai miscued his effort well wide. Paraguay were not forgiving and countered to deadly effect. Only a stunning flying save from Nour kept out a 20-yard bullet from Barreto. Just before the hour Fredy Bareiro should have made the game safe after Cardozo had unselfishly chested the ball into his path, but the forward leant back and saw his half volley fly over. 

To their credit though Iraq refused to surrender. A one-two between Emad and Younis ended with the latter fizzing a shot Barreto acrobatically kept out. Substitute Salih Sadir curled over, then Mahdi Karim flashed a header inches wide. 

There was to be no more let off though. In space 20 yards out, Cardozo's shot was saved onto the post and this time Bareiro made no mistake tucking the rebound home high into the net (0-3, 68). 

There were more chances as the game continued to flow from end to end. Qusai fired just wide before substitute Razzaq Farhan finally found the net after a one-two to the loud cheers of the Iraqi and Greek fans. (1-3, 83). Mahmoud's header almost set up a grandstand finish, while only the width of a post kept out a Pedro Benitez header. 
"I think a few of the players were anxious tonight," said Hamad afterwards. "There was a lot of money riding on this game and the desire to win may have got to a few players.  Of course, we lack experience in these matches because we have no league in our country." 

"It is a historic moment, our first medal in the Olympics," said a visibly moved Jara. "The boys deserve this moment. They have worked very hard and now we are a living a dream."