THE ALBICELESTE Vence 1-2 to Ivory Coast

Minutes after the announcement that Barcelona will allow Lionel Messi stay in China to play JJOO, the Argentine striker gave the victory to his country's Olympic selection, with both himself and a scoring pass that put his team in front in the run-up.

The duel between the two strongest in Group A was hard from the start for the combined albiceleste, who in the first minute and took a shock when Gervinho was planted on the goal line, but fortunately for the Argentines cleared Young.



Following the warning, Argentina took him to find the pulse and the clash took a vibrant pace since the early moments, when Messi, in 6 minutes, put a ball at the feet of Kun Agüero within the area, which is not finished in goal because Angban the goalkeeper cleared with fists powerful shot from the front Athletes Madrid.

Despite the pace, counterattacks and physical forcefulness of Africans, the ball and playing opportunities were increasingly Argentine boots. The Ivorians did a very open game, retreated into defence and gamble on the quick counterattacks to reach door, but its holes were well exploited by the Argentines, who took care of the ball possession and lights his good touch, with long, accurate passes .

Thus Argentina was creating several occasions, including a shot from the edge of the area Kun, to pass Messi, who came out (min. 27) and a pass since the end of the banda,'s own Agüero to Lavezzi, not the number 9 reached at the last moment to put on the net with the tip of the foot (min. 32).

However, the Argentine did not stop pushing, and in 43 minutes, Messi received a long pass from Riquelme in depth that left him just before the Ivorian goalkeeper in the area, without the defense Diarrassouba could reach it. The club is not what he thought, and with a gentle touch sent the ball to fund the network premiered the Argentine accountant.

However, the advantage argentina changed in the second half, and an impeccable air pass from the edge of the area, the Ivorian Cissé (Roda Kerkrade, Netherlands) reached 1-1 by overcoming a high Zabaleta and placed the ball for a header where the goalkeeper could not reach Ustari (min. 53).

The opportunities were multiplying by both sides, and after a goal annulled for offside by Agüero (min. 65), there were several opportunities Gervinho, Bagayoko and Di Maria, until Messi Cole was in the area to launch an orange ball that cleared Angban.

However, his clearance went to the foot of newly entered the field Acosta, who scored the 2-1 (min. 85), while Messi held embracing, among others, Riquelme, and the party that ruled for Argentina put at the top of Group A in the eliminatory.

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The crack has snapped to perfection in the merger and believe that all have with him closer medal

The presence of Leo Messi in training for selection argentina has meant a breath of fresh air and optimism. All his colleagues have received him with open arms and a point of veneration aware that their presence options for Argentina to get a medal in the Olympic Games in Beijing are much higher. The conviction that Messi will remain on the team throughout the competition and, therefore, may debut on Thursday before Ivory Coast is almost complete, although the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has not yet delivered its verdict, expected at the latest for Wednesday. The striker's club has received praise by all members of the selection, although the most explicit of all was the Madrid Carlos Gago, who noted that the presence of Messi and Riquelme in the same trigger allows the maximum illusions: "They are two great players, that anytime you can decide a match and, thank God, are Argentines. "

The relationship between the two stars of the albiceleste still wrapped up yesterday on rumours of a possible confrontation.

However, both were responsible for dispel any doubts during the meeting held at Tongji University in Shanghai. Both sat on the pitch and were chatting in a relaxed for about 20 minutes. The complicity that was publicly exhibited the best proof that the Argentine Olympic combined can breathe quiet since his two main exponents have connected well.

Messi has come to China in a good physical condition after having done the first part of season with the club and its screening, Sergio Batista, has been highly satisfied with their status. If the TAS final judgement in favor of the interests Argentines, the presence of Barcelona in the eleventh holder versus Ivory Coast would be fully insured. Their quality is the main weapon argentina to try to aspire to gold.