올림픽대표팀, 파라과이에 분패하며 4강 좌절 

한국 올림픽대표팀이 파라과이에 아쉽게 패하며 올림픽 4강 진출이 좌절됐다. 

한국은 22일 새벽(한국 시간) 그리스 테살로니키 카프탄조글리오 스타디움에서 열린 파라과이와의 아테네올림픽 8강전에서 2-3으로 분패했다. 

이날 경기에서 한국은 파라과이의 투톱 프레디 바레이로(리베르타드, 2골)와 호세 카르도조(톨루카)에게 잇따라 실점을 허용하며, 0-3까지 끌려갔다. 그러나 지난 예선 3차전 말리전과 마찬가지로 끝까지 경기를 포기하지 않은 한국은 대반격을 개시했고, 팀공격의 중심 이천수(레알 소시에다드)가 연속 2골을 뽑아내며 다시한번 극적인 드라마를 연출하는 듯 보였다. 그러나 아쉽게도 남은 시간이 별로 없었고, 파라과이의 밀집수비망을 뚫는데 실패하며 4강행에 실패했다. 

한국으로서는 비록 4강행에 실패하긴 했으나 56년만에 올림픽 8강 진출을 달성했으며, 더군다나 말리전과 파라과이전에서 대량실점을 허용하고도 포기하지 않고 끝까지 추격을 벌인 투혼은 충분히 인정받고, 박수받아야할 부분. 

전반 - 바레이로에게 선제골 내주며 리드 허용 

이날 경기에서 한국은 3-4-1-2 시스템으로 경기에 나섰으며, 약간의 멤버변화를 꾀했다. 최전방 투톱에 조재진(시미즈)과 함께 최성국(울산)이 처음으로 선발투입됐으며, 오른쪽 윙백에도 최원권(서울)이 처음으로 선발출장했다. 중앙 미드필더에는 김정우(울산)-김두현(수원) 콤비, 왼쪽 윙백에는 김동진(서울)이 변함없이 선발투입됐다. 

3백 수비라인 역시 유상철(요코하마)를 중심으로 박용호와 김치곤(이상 서울)이 나섰으며, 골키퍼에는 ‘리틀 칸’ 김영광(전남). 

전반 초반부터 한국은 활발한 움직임을 보였고, 이천수와 최성국 등을 활용해 파라과이의 좌우 측면을 공략하며 주도권을 잡아나갔다. 

첫 번째로 맞이한 기회는 전반 4분. 페널티 에어리어 근처에서 얻어낸 프리킥 찬스에서 김두현이 날카로운 오른발 프리킥을 시도했고, 이것은 파라과이 골문을 향해 날카롭게 들어갔으나 아쉽게도 골대 맞고 나갔다. 

또한 전반 9분에는 이천수의 코너킥을 공격에 가담한 박용호가 헤딩슛을 시도했지만, 빗맞으며 득점에 실패했다. 날카로운 세트 플레이. 

그러나 전반 10분이 넘어서면서 파라과이의 반격 역시 만만치 않았다. 전반 10분 오스발도 디아즈(구아라니)가 강력한 오른발 중거리슛을 시도했으나 다행히 김영광의 선방으로 위기를 넘겼다. 이어 전반 11분에도 코너킥에 이은 카르도소의 헤딩슛을 김영광이 또다시 선방하기도. 

위기를 넘긴 한국은 다시 측면공략을 시도했고, 전반 13분 이천수의 왼쪽 측면 돌파에 이은 크로스를 중앙의 조재진이 헤딩슛을 위해 점프했으나 살짝 미치지 못하며 아쉽게 득점에 실패했다. 

좋은 기회를 놓친 한국은 전반 15분, 다시 위기를 맞이했다. 코너킥에 이어 수비수 훌리오 만주르(구아라니)에게 노마크 헤딩슛을 허용한 것. 다행히 만주르의 슛은 골대를 벗어났다. 

그러나 전반 19분, 한국은 결국 선제골을 내주고 말았다. 한국의 왼쪽 측면에서 힐패스가 연결됐고, 유상철이 커버에 들어갔으나 몸중심이 흔들리며 잠시 균형을 잃은 틈에 바레이로가 돌파, 사각임에도 그대로 오른발슛으로 득점에 성공한 것. 

선제골을 내준 한국은 미드필드부터 좀 더 강하게 압박하며, 적극적으로 공세를 취했다. 반면 파라과이는 전체적인 라인을 조금 아래로 내리며 선수비 후역습을 노리는 모습. 

반격에 나선 한국은 전반 20분 최성국이 중앙에서 쇄도하는 이천수를 겨냥해 날카로운 스루패스를 연결했지만, 다소 길었다. 또한 전반 28분에는 밀집수비망을 뚫기 위해 김정우가 오른발 장거리슛을 시도했지만 약했고, 33분에는 최성국이 왼쪽 측면을 돌파한 뒤 올려준 크로스가 반대편으로 흐르자 최원권이 날카로운 오른발 중거리슛으로 연결했으나 골대를 살짝 벗어나고 말았다. 

그리고 전반 들어 가장 아까운 득점기회가 36분에 찾아왔다. 최성국이 상대의 오프사이드 트랩을 파괴하며, 김두현의 예리한 스루패스를 받아 단독찬스를 맞이한 것. 
그러나 최성국이 치고 들어가는 상황에서 어느새 페널티 에어리어 밖에까지 나온 파라과이 골키퍼 디에고 바레토(세로 포르테노)가 태클을 시도하며 득점기회를 무산시켰다. 

기세가 오른 한국은 전반 38분에도 김동진의 왼쪽 크로스를 조재진이 헤딩슛으로 연결했지만 골대를 살짝 벗어났고, 곧이어 이천수가 다시 왼쪽 측면을 돌파한 뒤 크로스를 올린 것이 파라과이 수비수 카를로스 가마라(인터 밀란)의 발 맞고 골대 쪽으로 굴절됐으나 골키퍼 선방에 막혔다. 

후반 - 이천수의 연속골로 맹추격했으나 끝내 동점에는 실패 

전반을 0-1로 뒤진 채 후반을 맞이한 한국은 후반 초반부터 공격적인 움직임을 보였다. 후반 시작하자마자 김두현의 왼발 중거리슛으로 포문을 연 한국은 이천수가 연달아 슛 3개를 시도했지만 아쉽게 득점에는 실패했다. 

먼저 후반 4분 조재진이 얻어낸 페널티 에어리어 정면에서의 프리킥을 이천수가 절묘한 오른발 프리킥으로 연결했고, ‘골!’이란 말이 입밖까지 터져나오려 했으나 골대를 살짝 벗어나고 말았다. 
 
이어 후반 5분에도 이천수가 왼발 중거리슛을 시도했지만 골대를 벗어났다. 또한 후반 7분에는 최원권이 돌파에 이어 조재진에게 패스했고, 이것을 받은 조재진이 돌아들어가는 이천수에게 절묘한 스루패스를 연결했으나 이천수의 왼발 논스톱슛이 골대를 벗어나며 동점골을 만드는데 실패했다. 비록 득점에는 실패했지만 좋은 공격전개. 

동점골이 쉽게 나오지 않자 김호곤 감독은 후반 11분 최성국을 대신해 정경호(울산)를 투입했다. 정경호는 들어가자마자 강한 오른발 중거리슛을 시도했지만 골키퍼 선방에 막혔다. 

이어 후반 15분에는 경기 중 왼쪽 발목부상을 당한 김정우를 대신해 조병국(수원)이 투입됐다. 이에 따라 유상철이 미드필드로 올라오고, 조병국이 3백 수비라인의 중앙을 담당하게 됐다. 

그러나 한국은 예기치 않은 김정우의 부상으로 조병국이 급히 투입되는 과정에서 전체적으로 어수선했고, 그 과정에서 후반 16분 파라과이의 카르도조에게 추가골을 내주고 말았다. 한국의 오른쪽 측면을 돌파한 파라과이가 크로스를 올리자 카르도조가 헤딩골로 연결시킨 것. 

0-2까지 스코어가 벌어지자 한국은 만회골을 위해 안간힘을 썼고, 후반 21분과 24분 김두현과 조재진이 잇따라 중거리슛을 시도했지만 골대를 벗어났다. 

그리고, 한국이 공격에 치중한 틈을 타 파라과이는 역습을 시도했고, 후반 26분 허망하게 3번째 골을 내주고 말았다. 한국의 오른쪽 측면을 침투한 아우렐리아노 토레스(구아라니)가 중앙으로 쇄도하는 바레이로에게 패스, 가볍게 득점한 것. 
한국의 추격의지에 찬물을 끼얹은 골이었다. 

후반 중반을 넘어선 상황에서 스코어 0-3. 솔직히 포기할 수도 있는 상황이었다. 그러나 한국 선수들은 여기서 이대로 고개를 숙이고 주저앉는 것을 원치 않았다. 

한국은 후반 29분 이천수가 중앙을 돌파하다 골키퍼가 손쓸 수도 없는 오른발 중거리슛을 성공시키며 맹추격을 개시했다. 이천수 개인으로서도 지난 2000년 시드니올림픽 모로코전에서 득점한데 이어 두 대회 연속골을 기록하는 순간. 

이어 후반 32분에는 최원권을 대신해 박규선(전북)을 투입하며 스피드를 살린 측면에서의 빠른 침투를 노렸다. 그리고 후반 33분, 왼쪽에서 올라온 크로스가 파라과이 토레스의 손에 맞으며 한국은 페널티킥을 얻었고, 34분 이천수가 깨끗하게 성공시키며 2-3까지 따라붙었다. 

경기를 지켜보는 모든 사람들은 말리전의 극적인 드라마가 재현되길 기대했으며, 한국 선수들 역시 파상공세를 통해 동점골을 향한 의지를 불태웠다. 후반 36분 이천수가 왼쪽 측면을 돌파한 뒤 반대편의 조재진을 향해 크로스를 올렸으나 아쉽게 골키퍼 손에 잡혔고, 37분에는 유상철의 패스를 받은 조재진이 돌면서 강한 왼발슛을 시도했지만 골키퍼 선방에 막히고 말았다. 

이후에도 한국은 계속해서 파라과이 문전을 노크했지만, 초밀집수비를 통해 골문을 걸어잠근 파라과이를 뚫지 못하며 경기는 마무리됐다. 

한편, 나머지 8강전에서는 이라크가 호주를 1-0으로 꺾고 4강에 진출하며 돌풍을 이어나갔고, 우승후보 이탈리아와 아르헨티나 역시 말리와 코스타리카를 각각 1-0, 4-0으로 꺾고 4강에 진출했다. 
 

- 8강전 경기결과 - 

한국 2-3 파라과이 
->득점: 이천수(후29, 후34, 이상 한국), 바레이로(전19, 후26), 카르도조(후16, 이상 파라과이) 

이라크 1-0 호주 
이탈리아 1-0 말리 
아르헨티나 4-0 코스타리카 
 

- 한국 출전선수명단 - 

GK: 김영광 
DF: 박용호, 유상철, 김치곤 
MF: 최원권(후32 박규선), 김정우(후15 조병국), 김두현, 이천수, 김동진 
FW: 조재진, 최성국(후11 정경호) 
 
Paraguay stumble into semi-finals (3:2)  

Paraguay edged a step closer to an Olympic gold medal this evening, despite almost squandering a three-goal lead in their eventual 3-2 victory over Korea Republic which saw the Asians fight their way back into the game in a whirlwind five-minute spell in the closing stages. Paraguay will meet Iraq in the semi-final in Thessaloniki after the tournament's surprise package dispatched Australia in their quarter-final clash.  
  
Korea Republic made the better start to the game. KIM Do Heon provided the first highlight when his 25-yard free-kick shaved the right-hand post with Paraguay goalkeeper Diego Barreto emphatically beaten (4). 

Paraguay took a little more time to register their first shot in anger, Diego Figueredo unleashing a 20-yard effort which Korean keeper KIM Young Kwang palmed over the crossbar with his right hand (10). Suddenly, the South Americans stepped up the pressure, YOO Sang Chul making a last gasp tackle on Jose Cardozo who was poised to shoot (14). Julio Manzur went close with a header from 10 yards just moments later (15). However, Paraguay's increased efforts were soon rewarded: Libertad striker Fredy Bareiro skipped past YOO before driving the ball over Kim and into the net from a tight angle (1-0, 19). 

The South Koreans had completely lost the initiative of the opening exchanges, with Paraguay now dictating the play. An Emilio Martinez cross found its target in Cardozo who headed the ball over (25).   
  
Five minutes later, Cardozo delivered an enticing cross from the right, which nobody was on hand to meet. Paraguay's pressure gradually relented and the Koreans were able to impose themselves on the game with a number of good chances. CHOI Won Kwon shot just wide with a subtle flick on 33 minutes. CHOI Sung Kuk had a good opportunity three minutes later, but goalkeeper Barreto raced out of his goal and snuffed out the danger. CHO Jae Hin went close with a header (38) and Barreto was called into action again just a minute later to palm a deflected LEE Chun Soo shot over the bar, leaving the Koreans with a one-goal deficit going back to the dressing rooms. 

KIM Do Heon had the first opportunity of the second half, but was wide of the target (46). Lee whipped a free-kick just wide of the goal four minutes later, and an equaliser at this stage would not have been undeserved for coach Kim Ho Kon's men (50). An inch-perfect pass from CHO handed LEE another good chance on goal (52), but it was Paraguay who gave a lesson in converting opportunities after going 30 minutes without a real sight of goal. A Bareiro cross picked out Cardozo perfectly, who headed past the helpless KIM in the Korean goal (2-0, 61). Bareiro added his second ten minutes later courtesy of a dream assist from Aureliano Torres to give the South Americans a comfortable cushion (3-0, 71). 

Could the Koreans claw back a three-goal deficit again as they did against Mali? It certainly looked possible when LEE found the target from an incredible 35 yards, giving his team renewed hope at 3-1 (74). LEE added a second from the spot just five minutes later after a Torres handball (3-2, 79), guaranteeing a pulsating conclusion. Korea surged forward, forcing Barreto into a desperate save from a KIM Dong Jin drive (82). However, the Asians' powers began to diminish towards the final whistle, and Paraguay held out for a narrow victory. 

Paraguay coach Carlos Jara admitted: "It was a difficult, very intense game against a strong team. We had a big a advantage but then ran into problems at the end. We are lucky to have won a game like that for Paraguay. We are happy and proud that we did it." 

Korean coach Kim Ho Kon summarised: "Both teams played a good game. We were always optimistic that we could do it, but we conceded easy goals just as we did against Mali. Our defenders were off the pace when it came to stopping quick and clever strikers." 
 
[KFA 대한축구협회]

Italy down brave Mali in extra time (1:0) 

Goals Scored: BOVO Cesare (ITA) 116 '  
  
Fans inside the Karaiskaki Stadium had to wait 116 long minutes to see the ball hit the back of the net this evening. It finally took an Olympic debutant in the shape of Italy's Cesare Bovo to score the only goal of the game and fire his country into the semi-finals.  
  
The Italians also had the first major chance of the game after just three minutes when a defensive error played in Alberto Gilardino. However, the young striker shot wide from a promising position. Italy were without Daniele de Rossi for this quarter-final clash, suspended after picking up two yellow cards to give Cesare Bovo his first taste of Olympic action. 

Mali adopted a positive approach from the off, using individual runs and short passing to make headway, but could not manage to pose a serious threat to Ivan Pelizzoli's goal. Nevertheless, Italy were often forced to resort to fouls to break down Mali's pacy attacks. The European's were excessively passive in this period and scarcely progressed as far as the Mali penalty area. 

Italy's goalkeeper, Ivan Pelizzoli, came under close scrutiny for the first time in the 30th minute when Mamadou Diallo shot from an acute angle, the Italian shotstopper making an impressive save. There was soon further excitement in the Italian penalty area when a foul on Dramane Traore prompted Carlos Torres to point to the spot. Momo Sissoko stepped forward and placed the ball towards the bottom right-hand corner. But Pelizzoli dived the right way and parried. The ball rebounded straight at the feet of Diallo, but the AS Roma keeper thwarted the Mali player for a second time in quick succession. 

Italy were lacking in inspiration in the final third and Gilardino and Co. were often caught languishing in offside positions. Realising that their intricate passing approach was not paying dividends, Mali began to shoot from long range. Jimmy Kebe unleashed a 30-yard effort shortly before half-time, but the shot soared just above the crossbar. Diallo tried his luck from 20-yards and goalkeeper Pelizzoli parried into the path of the oncoming Ndiaye, who arrived a fraction too late to capitalise. 

The game shifted up a gear after the interval. Mali had a good opportunity after Ndiaye back-heeled the ball to Diallo in the area, but the latter took too long over his shot. Italy responded with the best chance so far through Gilardino. The striker received the ball in the penalty box with his back to goal, before shooting on the turn but Mali keeper Cheick Bathily was alert to the danger and pushed the ball out of play with an acrobatic save.  
     
The fans also began to rouse, providing vociferous support for both teams. Ndiaye tested the Italian number one yet again after another fine shot on the turn from 12 yards, Pelizzoli claiming the ball at the second opportunity.  

The finest attack of the game came when Andrea Pirlo played a defence-splitting pass into the run of Gilardino, who shot unmarked at Bathily's goal, but unfortunately just wide. The game petered out appreciably in the latter stages. Inaccurate passing and careless mistakes preventing any concerted build-up play. Italy were more committed to the task, but still fell short in the final third. 

Mali carved out another promising situation shortly before the end of normal time. Ndiaye made a surging run which was halted illegally on the edge of the area. Mamadi Berthe curled the free-kick around the wall but also a foot or so wide of the post.  

And so the game entered extra time. Abouta tested Italy's Pelizzoli with a 13-yard shot after 11 minutes before Gilardino had his fourth major chance of the game. Del Nero masterfully beat two defenders down the right-hand side before whipping a perfectly timed cross into the area and onto the head of Gilardino, who contrived to head wide of the goal from five yards out.  

Italy's Matteo Ferrari had a gilt-edged opportunity to decide the tie in his country's favour in the second period of extra time when he was picked out on the edge of the six-yard box by Pirlo before somehow lofting the ball over the bar. Shortly after, the Europeans finally made the decisive breakthrough when Pirlo delivered a free-kick into the area from the right flank. Cesare Bovo rose and directed a powerful header past the Mali goalkeeper to secure a 1:0 (116') victory and book Italy's place in the semi-finals.  

"The last African representatives are out. But we went down fighting," said Mali coach Checik Kone afterwards. "The turning point was our missed penalty, but it was written in the stars and the heavens that Italy would win,"the coach added philosophically. 

Counterpart Claudio Gentile was full of praise for his team: "When you consider the circumstances, the heat, the climate and the tiredness of my players, it was a well deserved victory. We missed a string of chances but we are delighted with the win."

Goals Scored: EMAD MOHAMMED (IRQ) 64 '  
 
Joseph S. Blatter and everyone else in Heraklion's Pankrito Stadium bore witness to a very special match this Saturday 21 August 2004. In terms of quality, the clash between Iraq and Australia was by no means the best this tournament has seen, but the win by Iraq elevated its status to that of a magnificent symbol - a ray of sunlight in the lives of a suffering people. There has been a unique bond between the Iraqi players and fans since the start of this competition, and both were in raptures when the final whistle went this evening to signal their qualification for their first-ever Olympic semi-final. After all they have achieved already in the competition, tonight's victory by Hamad Majeed's Adnan's men can hardly be classed as a shock, but it is certainly the continuation of a fairy tale - one that may be extended even further.  
  
In the early parts of tonight's game both sides appeared sluggish, no doubt because of the intense heat. Iraq nonetheless started the more adventurous and forged their first chance after just six minutes, when Eugene Galekovic went close with a 25-yard free-kick. The Middle Easterners clearly thought they could get some joy down the flanks but the Australian defence held firm in the face of repeated raids by Mohammed Hawar Mulla and Mohammed Emad. 

In the ninth minute, Iraq threatened again, when Mulla rose high at the back post to meet a corner, but he could not direct his header on target. For the Olyroos, Alex Brosque was proving dangerous down the right and their aerial prowess was also beginning to pose problems to the Iraqis. They went close from a corner in the 14th minute, when Adrian Madaschi popped up unmarked but, like Mulla moments earlier, failed to steer his header goal-ward. 
  
Iraq responded with an incisive counter-attack on 25 minutes, Emad receiving the ball in the box and going close with a half-volley. As the match progressed, however, the Australians began to take a grip on the game, though they were still reluctant to commit large numbers forward. In the 29th minute, Luke Wilkshire found Anthony Danze with a lovely cross, but goalkeeper Sabri Nour spread himself well to tip the attacker's header around the post. The ensuing corner fell to John Aloisi, but again an Australian failed to find the target. "We created a lot of chances in the first half but we didn't take them," lamented Australian manager Frank Farina afterwards, "you can't win a match that way." 

Those narrow escapes prompted the Iraqis to up their game, and Abdul Wahab Abu Al Hail unleashed a ferocious long-range volley in the 38th minute but was dismayed to see it fizz narrowly wide. The stalemate persisted all the way until half-time. 

The Aussies emerged from the dressing room determined to attack more, and within minutes of the resumption Brosque raced onto a dinky pass and lifted a delicate lob over the advancing goalkeeper, but Nour somehow managed to scramble back in time to make a last-gasp save. Moments later, Borsque tried another shot, and this time Nour could only push it out as far as the feet of Danze, who comfortably slotted the ball home - unfortunately for the Perth Glory midfielder, he was adjudged to be off-side and the goal did not stand. "It doesn't matter if the off-side decision was correct or not," said Farina after the game, "the fact was that the scoreboard still read 0-0." 

Gymnastics Iraq-style 
The singing in the stands grew louder and louder as the thousands of Iraqi fans did their utmost to spur their team on, but it was still the Olyroos who were looking the more likely to score. In the 59th minute, Aloisi butted the ball towards goal, but Nour delighted the Iraqi supporters with another acrobatic save. Then it was Brosque's turn to perform more trickery down the left before delivering a tantalising cross for Ryan Griffiths, but again the header went wide. 

By this stage Iraq were reeling, but such is this team's character that they managed to muster a stinging riposte. After Australia only half-cleared a corner on 64 minutes, Karim Mahdi chipped the ball back into the danger zone and Emad produced an acrobatic scissors-kick to whack the ball into the net to give Iraq a sensational lead and send their fans into delirium. 
Frank Farina's troops had no intention of lying down and accepting defeat and they came within inches of grabbing an immediate equaliser. Captain Wilskhire lead by example and barged through the middle before letting fly with a blockbuster that crashed back off the cross-bar. In the 73rd minute, McKain added his name to the long list of Australians who steered headers wide. 

Iraq went forward in search of a second to seal victory, and in the 74th minute Farhan Razzaq lifted the ball over his marker before collecting it on the other side and blasting goal-ward from close range only for goalkeeper Galekovic to pull off a splendid save. Five minutes later, Razzaq menaced again, this time intercepting a sloppy back-pass, but Galekovic surged from his line to make another crucial intervention. The Australians spent the remainder of the match camped in their opponents' half, but Iraq proved their resilience by keeping them at bay and reaching the semi-finals for the first time in their history. "Australia played very well tonight," said Adnan afterwards, "and it was very difficult to keep it going in that heat. But we won, and it's an indescribable joy to be able to give this victory to the Iraqi people, who are suffering so much right now." 

Frank Farina, meanwhile, was a good deal more downcast, saying "I thought we deserved to win. But in football, you have to put the ball in the net. Iraq did that, we didn't." 
 

Goals Scored: DELGADO Cesar (ARG) 24 ' , TEVEZ Carlos (ARG) 43 ' , TEVEZ Carlos (ARG) 82 ' , TEVEZ Carlos (ARG) 83 '   
  
In another display of ruthless finishing, Argentina's all-conquering Olympians routed Costa Rica 4-0 to set up a juicy semi-final clash with Claudio Gentile's Italy. The hero of the hour was once again Carlos T?vez, whose stunning hat-trick made him the tournament's leading goal scorer. Marcelo Bielsa's men dominated the game from start to finish and had effectively killed off the tie by half time.   
  
The individual brilliance of the Boca Juniors star threatened to overshadow a fine team effort by the South Americans. In spite of the stifling heat, which affected both teams in the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium in Patras, it was Argentina who prevailed taking another giant step towards their country's first ever Olympic gold. 

As many had predicted, Argentina were first off their blocks and imposed their tempo on the game. The overly cautious Ticos, reluctant to commit numbers forward, sat back waiting to their chances on the break. The ensuing congestion in midfield left the Albicelestes very little room to work the ball through to their front men. The first real chance, however, fell to Costa Rica. A long ball from the back picked out Jairo Arrieta, who sneaking in behind an uncharacteristically lax Argentine defence, saw his shot go narrowly wide (17'). 
    
The near miss must have woken Argentina from their slumbers, because they immediately began to convert possession into chances. Luis Gonz?lez was first to test Neighel Drummond with a blistering drive from outside the box (20'), but the keeper was up to the challenge. Unfortunately for Costa Rica, their custodian was unable to hold another shot just minutes later from Cristian Gonz?lez. The rebound fell nicely to C?sar Delgado, who fired the South Americans into the lead with a measured right-foot strike (1-0; 24'). 

Despite going a goal down, Rodrigo Kenton's side still seemed intent on sitting back - a tactic that merely played into the hands of the insatiable Argentinians. It came as no surprise then, when they almost doubled their lead 12 minutes later. Delgado, picking up a neat pass from Clemente Rodr?guez, let fly with an unstoppable drive which clipped the outside of the post and went wide (37'). "Some of you will question my tactic of playing defensively out there tonight. How else can you contain Argentina without being defensive? They are one of the best sides in the world with quality players that can win a game at any moment," the Costa Rican coach explained later at the press conference. 

The last action of the first half would see the crucial second goal. The unrelenting pressure of the South Americans - dressed in their change strip of blue - got its deserved reward thanks to cross from the left by Cristian Gonz?lez. The midfielder's inch-perfect ball found Carlos T?vez, who calmly slotted home with his right (2-0; 43').  The strike by the Boca Juniors prodigy brought to 4 his tally for the tournament, as he ran to celebrate in front of a flag which said, "T?vez, because of you I came to Greece". 

Although Costa Rica sent on Eric Scott to help the solitary ?lvaro Saborio up front, the second half was a case of more of the same. Argentina, very much in the ascendancy, continued to have the lion's share of the chances and possession against a practically beaten Tico side. Another excellent passage of play released the ubiquitous Cristian Gonz?lez down the left, but Drummond got his fingertips to the shot to push it just wide (48'). Moments later, Delgado missed an equally good chance from a similar piece of approach play  (52'). 

Costa Rica must have really known it was not to be there night when they missed a glaring chance to cut the deficit. Carlos Her?ndez broke down the right flank and swung in a perfect ball for Saborio. However, the Saprissa player, from almost on the goal line, somehow managed to head it wide (60'). And when Costa Rica did manage to get a shot on target, they found the Argentine keeper Germ?n Lux in unbeatable form. Despite, being practically a spectator for the first 45, Lux had to be at his best to pull Scott's goal-bound strike from the air on 66 minutes. "We lost possession for a while in the second half, but we dominated the latter stages as well as the first half. If you ask me if my team make winning easy, I'd say that winning is never easy; It always comes at a cost, even if it's purely physical," Marcelo Bielsa said afterwards. 

The game would have gone on maybe 20 minutes too long had it not been for the majesty of Carlos T?vez. First, he finished beautifully after a fine effort by Clemente Rodr?guez (3-0; 82'), and then, in a moment of individual brilliance, his powerful right-foot shot curled just inside the near post to send the crowd in Patras into raptures (4-0; 83'). With six goals in four games, the big question now is, can anyone stop the Argentine No. 10?