In a dramatic turn of events at the opening match of the Paris Olympics men’s soccer tournament, Morocco fans stormed the pitch to protest a late goal by Argentina, causing a chaotic scene that led to the game being suspended for nearly two hours with only minutes remaining.
The controversy arose when Argentina scored a goal in the 16th minute of added time, equalizing the score at 2-2. This prompted an angry reaction from Morocco fans who believed they had been unjustly denied a crucial victory.
Amid the chaos, objects were thrown onto the field, and security had to intervene to remove invading fans. The situation escalated further when what appeared to be a flare was thrown, causing concern among the players.
Initially, it was believed that the full-time whistle had been blown, and FIFA's website even declared the game over. However, it was later clarified that the match was not officially concluded, and VAR was reviewing the contentious goal.
After a lengthy delay, players returned to the field to resume the game. Following a brief warm-up period, an official confirmed that the goal by Argentina had been disallowed, much to the disappointment of the Argentine players but to the jubilation of Morocco's bench.
Play resumed for a few minutes before the final whistle was blown, with Morocco ultimately securing a 2-1 victory over Argentina. The North African team had initially led 2-0 before Argentina staged a late comeback, with goals from Giuliano Simeone and Cristian Medina.
Despite the tumultuous events that unfolded, the match eventually concluded in a tense and controversial manner, highlighting the passion and intensity of Olympic soccer competition.
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