Messi strikes to inspire Argentina; Brazil snatch win (Roundup)

By George Burns Aug 7, 2008, 14:17 GMT

Beijing - Striker Lionel Messi got Argentina's Olympic campaign off in style by scoring once and helping to set up a late winner as the defending champions edged Ivory Coast 2-1 in Shanghai on Thursday.

It coincided with a decision by Messi's club Barcelona to allow the 21-year-old to remain at the Games, despite the Spanish giants winning the right to stop him playing.

Messi was on target two minutes before before half-time when he ran on to a pass from Juan Ramon Riquelme to sidefoot the ball past goalkeeper Vincent Angban.

Sekou Cisse headed Ivory Coast level eight minutes after the break but Argentina snatched an 85th-minute winner when Lautaro Acostar pounced after Messi's shot had been blocked by the keeper.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had ruled that Barcelona, as well as German clubs Schalke and Werder Bremen, were permitted to recall their players from the Games.

FIFA, which had ruled that clubs must release players aged 23 or under if a nation requests them, said it was 'surprised and disappointed' by the decision and appealed to the clubs to let the players take part.

Both Bremen midfielder Diego and Schalke defender Rafinha were in action for Brazil who ran out 1-0 winners over Belgium in Shenyang.

In the same group, Australia and Serbia shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

Brazil struggled for long periods against a resilient Belgium side in their Group C game, but secured all three points when Hernanes fired home from inside the area. Belgium lost SV Hamburg's Vincent Kompany on a red card.

Hosts China and New Zealand finished 1-1 in the other group match.

Italy made a strong start by comfortably overcoming Honduras 3- 0 in a Group D match in Qinhuangdao.

Sebastian Giovinco put the Azzurri in front on 41 minutes in Qinhuangdao while Giuseppe Rossi made it 2-0 on the stroke of half- time from the penalty spot.

Any chance of Honduras getting back into game ended seven minutes after the restart when Robert Acquafresca made it 3-0 for Italy with his side's second penalty of the game. Carlos Pavon missed a penalty for Honduras.

In the other group encounter, South Korea and Cameroon drew 1-1.

In Group B in Tianjin, Stuart Holden scored the only goal of the game in the United States' 1-0 win over Japan, sending a low shot that squirmed under goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, while Serbia came from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw against Australia.

Ruben Zadkovich put the Australians in front on 69 minutes but Slobodan Rajkovic levelled matters with a strong near-post header 12 minutes from time.

The Netherlands and Nigeria and Nigeria meanwhile finished goalless, with the Dutch losing Evander Sno to a red card for a challenge on Emmanuel Ekpo in stoppage time.