Tokyo 2020: Men’s Football Round up – Day Two

Tokyo 2020 has provided the spectators at home with thrills, spills, and a plethora of goals. The tournament has already delivered 45 goals and countless memories, here is a roundup of day two.

Group A

Hat-trick Gignac

France clinched their first group A win, with a momentous 4-3 win in Saitama Stadium against spritely South Africa.

Pierre Andre Gignac chose desire from the start. The forward had an attempt go wide of the mark in the first two minutes.

A first-half that produced 13 shots at goal and seven on target, it was inevitable that goals would flow.

Luther Singh was given a chance from a free-kick in the 32^nd minute which tested the French ‘keeper, and they say good luck comes in pairs. On the stroke of half-time, Singh was awarded the opportunity to put South Africa ahead, however, Singh struck the ball onto the crossbar.

In the 53^rd minute disaster struck as Clement Michelin collided with Paul Bernardoni, and gifted Kobamelo Kodisang the chance to score into an open net and give South Africa the lead.

Randal Kolo Muani who was a substitute last match, came in from the start in this game and he rewarded his managers’ faith by laying an assist on a plate for Gignac, and four minutes later France was level.

With 20 minutes remaining South Africa regained the lead, as Kodisang evaded his man and whipped in a near-post cross for Evidence Makgopa, to make the scores 2-1. Moments later the game was again balanced as Gignac headed in his second of the game from a cross by Michelin.

The goal of the day was scored by Teboho Mokoena as he shot a missile into the top right hand of Bernardonis’ net to make it 3-2 with 10 minutes remaining. The scoring endured the test of time as France was awarded their own penalty as Ronwen Williams was the guilty man. Gignac completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

In the dying embers of the match, Gignac provided an assist to give France a memorable win, as Teji Savanier struck a crisp ball from inside the area, to give France the priceless win.

Group B

Korea delight

Lee Kang-in joined the Olympic party as he scored two goals in a 4-0 win for the South Koreans against Romania. The result puts all four teams on three points with all to play for in the last group match.

The first half belonged to South Korea as they tested a Romanian backline with several attempts. On the 12^th minute, Hwang Ui-jo found himself in the box unmarked but only fired at the legs of Mihai Aioani.

10 minutes later a tangle of feet caused makeshift centre back Marius Marin to lash in an own goal towards his net to make it 1-0 to South Korea.

With half an hour on the clock, referee Valenzuela adjudged an indirect free-kick to Romania in the South Korean penalty area, but nothing fruitful was born for Romania.

On the stroke of half-time, Romania was down to 10, as Ion Gheorghe was shown a second yellow for a mild challenge.

In the second half, South Korea pushed for the important second goal and got their just deserts as Um Won-sang had his shot deflected into the net for 2-0.

Golden Star Lee Kang-in entered the fray on the 78^th minute and was given the chance from the spot-kick to score his first of the tournament, which he did with aplomb. Double delight followed the Valencia star as he passed the ball into the bottom left of the goal, with an assist from Kang Yoon-sang to make it four.

Group C

Argie party

Facundo Medina gave Argentina a slender 1-0 victory against the bottom of the table Egypt in a well-contested match.

Argentina was on the front foot in this match early on, as Adolfo Gaich rattled the crossbar in the ninth minute, but they didn’t have it all their way. A mistake on the halfway line allowed the Egyptian Salah Mohsen the chance to slip in Ramadan Sobhi once of Stoke to have a shot on goal which goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma saved.

Both teams traded punches, but it was the midfield of Egypt particularly Akram Tawfik of Al Ahly who comfortably kept Argentina at bay in the first half. Sobhi was a thorn in Argentina’s side twisting and turning his defender to allow forward Ahmed Rayan the chance to hit the target, but he couldn’t provide the finishing touches and both teams went into the half at 0-0.

After half time Alexis Mac Allister floated in a dangerous cross which caused confusion, and the ball cannoned off the post into the grateful sights of Medina who scored Argentina’s first goal of the group stages.

Five yellow cards were dished out by the referee in the last 20 minutes of the match which was disrupted by a stubborn Argentina side who fought for the win.

All to play for in the last match of the groups where all four teams can advance.

Group D

German prayers

Germany was involved in another thriller against group D rivals Saudi Arabia, which they won by a thin margin of 3-2.

It was as if both defences were already on their summer holidays, the forwards had a field day with the number of shots on goal in this match, 32 in total.

In the fourth minute, Germany was awarded a dubious free-kick, which Ragnar Ache failed to hit the target from an unmarked header, but Eduard Lowen faired a little better when his curling effort brought out a save from goalkeeper Mohammed Al Rubaie.

Germany cracked the code in the 10^th minute when Cedric Teuchert cross evaded the Saudi defence but fell kindly into Nadiem Amiri’s path and he guided the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Saudis woke up from their slumber who shaded the first-half possession stats, and attacking midfielder Sami Al Najei provided a warning shot to the Germans in the 18^th minute, however, he found his range on the 30th-minute mark when he reacted first in the box to make it 1-1.

Germany applied more pressure, and this told as Ache registered his second of the Olympic Games with a rebounded effort in the six-yard box just before halftime.

Wham! Saudi Arabia caught Germany napping and five minutes after the half Najei gleefully celebrated a free-flowing move with a one-touch finish to make the scores 2-2.

Amos Pieper is having a tournament to forget, removed at the half against Brazil and he was also sent off in the 67^th minute against Saudi Arabia for a rash last man challenge.

The football gods smiled on Germany in the 75^th minute as they found the winning touch from a corner. Max Kruse directed the ball accurately onto defender Felix Uduokhai to make it 3-2.

Germany has it all to do in the final game against Ivory Coast, where a win will guarantee passage to the quarter-finals.

Day two continued

Japan 2-1 Mexico – Goals from Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan give the hosts top spot in Group A after downing Mexico in Saitama.

New Zealand 2-3 Honduras – Honduras captured their first win in Group B as they pounced on the All Whites with two late goals.

Australia 0-1 Spain – Another first Group C win this time for Spain, as Mikel Oyarzabal scored from close range.

Brazil 0-0 Ivory Coast – A petulant clash between two heavyweights ended in a stalemate, which suits both teams at the summit of Group D.

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