The Olympic Games kicked off with a… left foot during a football match that will surely go down in… history, as it turned into a tragicomedy, lasting 230 minutes.
In the opening match of the Games, Argentina faced Morocco, with the match’s development transforming into… farce. After fans invaded the pitch at 90+16′, the match was interrupted -temporarily- and the players returned to the Saint-Étienne field two hours after the stoppage!
In fact, with a two-hour delay, the equalizing goal (2-2) scored by Argentina’s Medina at 106′ (!) was ruled offside by Swedish referee Niberg, following a VAR check. Nevertheless, the spectators were left with the… impression that the match had ended in a draw, as a final whistle was reportedly heard after Medina’s goal. However, the referee had been called by VAR to check for offside, while Moroccan fans simultaneously invaded the stadium.
Upon their return -after two hours- to the pitch, the two teams played only for three minutes in order to formally conclude the match, which ultimately saw Morocco emerge victorious with a score of 2-1 after nearly 230 minutes and once the stands were cleared.
Morocco had led 2-0, and then Argentina reduced it to 2-1, but ultimately could not level the score.
Watch the best moments in the ERT video on YouTube:
(Photo from ERT)