Olyroos ‘shock the world’ in historic upset
Tilio #Tilio
Two-time Olympic men’s football champion Argentina has been stunned 2-0 by Australia in their opening game at the Tokyo Games on Thursday.
In its first Olympic game since 2008, Australia took the lead through Lachlan Wales’ tap-in the 14th minute at the Sapporo Dome.
Teen sensation Marco Tilio secured the victory in the 80th, just a minute after coming off the bench, with a sensational pearler from the edge of the box.
The win rockets Australia to the top of Group C ahead of Egypt and Spain, who drew 0-0 in the other game.
It puts them in strong stead to progress through to the knockout stage and heralds a new era in Australian Olympic football.
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Terrigal-born Wales was the first to net in the opening stages of the match when he turned a stray ball goalward from the six-yard box.
But it was perhaps Tilio’s stunning effort from outside the box that stole the headlines late in the match.
“It really is a dream come true to win this match,” Wales said at full-time.
“Argentina are one of the biggest nations in world football and it is an unreal feeling.”
“We’ve put in such hard work and to all the Australians out there it’s such a big moment in football… tonight we shocked the world, and hopefully, we can keep shocking the world throughout the tournament.”
A red card issued to Francisco Ortega on the stroke of half-time played into the Australians’ hands as they showed commendable composure to maintain the pressure for another 40 minutes.
The Argentines won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008.
Australia’s best showing was fourth place in 1992.
-with AP
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