You can take a CONMEBOL team out of a CONMEBOL competition, but the mayhem will apparently follow them.
Argentina — coming off a chaotic Copa America win with its senior national team — sent a talented under-23 side to the Paris Olympics. And for a moment, it seemed like Argentina had pulled off a late equalizer against Morocco.
After a seemingly never-ending series of deflections off players and the bar, Argentina’s Cristian Medina headed home an apparent tying goal to send the crowd at Saint-Étienne into a frenzy. The scene was so wild that fans stormed the field, which forced the referees to suspend the match.
An absolutely CHAOTIC finish as Argentina draw with Morocco!
The Olympics are SO back. 🔥 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/MUTd4xyrci
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 24, 2024
😨 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐬 tras el Argentina 🆚 Marruecos
🧨 En medio de la celebración de la selección albiceleste, tras lograr el 2-2 en el último suspiro, desde la grada cayó un 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐨 muy cerca de algunos jugadores#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/BUpujNcxr9
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) July 24, 2024
Both teams went to the dressing rooms and had to be called back to finish the match in an empty stadium after a warmup. And it wasn’t until that point when VAR finally took a look at the goal, which was clearly offside.
Argentine TV reporting that the referee will review the play once the game begins as if there is something to interpret here. Per these official images it’s pretty clear.
This finish has been nothing short of absurd, scandalous and embarrassing. The Olympic Games… pic.twitter.com/Vm87llAmKv
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) July 24, 2024
So, Argentina basically had all that time thinking it had tied a match at the death only to go back down a goal hours later.
⚠️ ¡NO HAY GOL DE ARGENTINA! ¡DOS HORAS DESPUÉS!
El VAR anuló el gol de Medina, se reanudó el partido para jugar 3 minutos más.#Argentina 1-2 #Marruecos
📺 Peacock ➡️ https://t.co/ppGzhem26b
📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/dVaMO3GznJ#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/gBGdQ39kfQ— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 24, 2024
Morocco would hold on in those final three minutes of stoppage time and win, 2-1. And we thought the Copa America was a mess. That ordeal took disorganization to a new level.
