Argentina 1-0 Australia
Argentina dominated a defensive Australian side but required a late strike from Ezequiel Lavezzi to ensure them of passage into the quarter finals of the Olympic Games.
First Half
The Albiceleste were the stronger of the two sides early on and created several clear-cut opportunities to go ahead but were kept out by some heroics from goalkeeper Adam Federici..
The highly fancied Argentinians completely dominated possession in the midfield and came close to going ahead on a Juan Román Riquelme free-kick that flashed inches wide of the right post.
Lionel Messi and his team-mates created several openings during the first half, but were restricted to long range efforts by an Australian side that defended their goal with ten players at times.
Argentina went into the break without having been able ot break the deadlock, although they created more than half a dozen good opportunities to go ahead in a half that they proved much superior in.
Second Half
After the break it was much of the same again, but this time the Argentinians pressured the opposition goal with much more authority.
Inside the first five minutes of the second half Sergio Batista's side had already created three clear goal scoring opportunities, after efforts from Luciano Fabian Monzon, Riquelme, and a brilliant shot from Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano that hit the side netting.
In the 71st minute substitute Nikita Rukavytsya had an excellent opportunity to put the Olyroos ahead when he was put through on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat, but the Perth Glory striker hit the side netting.
Minutes later Messi should have put Argentina in the lead, but he fired the ball over the bar when he had the goal at his mercy.
Argentina created a couple more opportunities to score, before they finally broke the deadlock in the 77th minute. After a sensational exchange of passes Angel Di Maria found Lavezzi at the back post and the Napoli striker volleyed the ball home.
Towards the end of the match Argentina had numerous opportunities to extend their lead, but failed to capitalize. They came closest when a Riquelme long range effort flashed inches wide of the left post.
Team Line-ups:
Argentina: Oscar Ustari, Ezequiel Garay, Luciano Monzon, Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fazio, Fernando Gago, Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero (Angel Di Maria 61').
Australia: Adam Federici, Jade North, Mark Milligan, Matthew Spiranovic, Neil Kilkenny, Stuart Musialik, David Carney, Ruben Zadkovich, James Troisi (Mark Bridge 65'), Billy Celeski and Archie Thompson (Nikita Rukavytsya 72').
Goal: Ezequiel Lavezzi (77')
Yellow Card: Adam Federici (74)
Referee: Viktor Kassai
Venue: Shanghai International Stadium. Att: 38,182
Lavezzi scored the only goal for Argentina after nice work by this team mates.
77′ Lavezzi
