Morocco Secures Deserved Win in Olympic Football Opener

Sportribune

The Moroccan National Olympic team clinched a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Argentina, showcasing a high-quality performance in a match marred by chaos. The opening fixture of the men’s Olympic football tournament, played in Saint-Etienne, descended into disorder as supporters from both teams stormed the pitch, and the referee made controversial decisions in the final minutes.

Argentina appeared to have salvaged a 2-2 draw when Cristian Medina scored in the 16th minute of added time (15 minutes). However, the celebrations were cut short as projectiles, including bottles and plastic cups, were hurled from the stands, and several spectators invaded the pitch. The chaos erupted after the referee refused to consult the VAR to check if the goal was valid, despite the Moroccan players’ demands to review the potential offside preceding the equalizing goal. In response to the disorder, the referee blew the whistle, and the teams left the field.

The situation remained unclear until both teams returned two hours later to complete the remaining three minutes in an empty stadium. A VAR review disallowed Medina’s goal for offside, allowing Morocco to claim all three points.

Al Ain forward Soufiane Rahimi, opened the scoring for Morocco following an assist from Bilal El Khannouss in first-half stoppage time. Rahimi doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, converting a penalty after Ilias Akhomach was fouled.

Moroccan Fans Bring Vibrant Energy and Unwavering Support

In Addition, the fervent support of Moroccan fans added another layer of excitement to the match. Moroccan supporters traveled from cities across France to witness and cheer on the National team. Thousands of men, women, and children created a vibrant atmosphere before and during the match, their support undoubtedly boosted the players’ spirits and played a crucial role in the victory.