2024-07-25 02:25:03
The pandemonium is already underway in Paris.
Two men’s soccer matches officially kicked off the 2024 Olympics on Wednesday, and one created instant chaos.
After trailing 2-0 earlier in the match, Argentina seemingly earned a draw against Morocco by scoring an equalizer in the 16th minute of second-half stoppage time.
Argentina hit the crossbar twice in the sequence, first off a fantastic deflection from Moroccan goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui and then off an Argentina header. Cristian Medina finally got the ball into the back of the net with a header, knotting the game at 2-2 just before the final whistle.
Following Medina’s goal, some Moroccan fans invaded the pitch as flares were seemingly thrown at Argentinian players. Stade Geoffroy-Guichard was then cleared with a message on video boards inside the stadium reading “Your session has been suspended. Please make your way to the nearest exit.”
Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
More than an hour later, Argentina’s goal was overturned and ruled offside. The game then resumed for a few minutes of play with no fans in the stands and Morocco held on for a 2-1 win.
Argentina won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008 but has not exceeded a 10th-place finish at the Games since. The team will return to the pitch on Saturday, July 27, against Iraq.
