Reprieved Messi on target

Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily  |   2008-8-8  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ALL three players embroiled in the Olympic soccer court action started their opening games yesterday.

Diego and Rafinha helped Brazil to a 1-0 Group C win over nine-man Belgium in Shenyang, and Barcelona's Lionel Messi scored one goal in 2004 champion Argentina's 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in Shanghai despite a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in favor of their European clubs that could have prevented them playing.

Barcelona and German clubs Werder Bremen and Schalke, where Diego and Rafinha are contracted, won a CAS decision that clubs should not be forced to make players eligible for the Olympic tournament. The German clubs allowed their players to stay with the Brazil squad.

Argentina coach Sergio Batista said Messi wanted to stay in China, pressuring Barcelona into releasing him for the tournament.

Messi scored in the 43rd minute to give Argentina the lead. Sekou Cisse equalized for the Africans with a header in the 52nd. Lautaro Acosta scored the winner in the 85th.

In the earlier Group A match, Slobodan Rajkovic equalized with a header from a corner in the 78th as Serbia drew 1-1 with Australia.

Australian?coach?Graham?Arnold?said?he was satisfied with the result?but conceded his team had allowed too many?freekicks?against a physical opponent.

"It's?important?in?a?three-game?qualifying?stage not to lose? the first game,?otherwise you have to?win?the?next?two,"?Arnold?said.

Serbia?coach?Miroslav?Djukic?was disappointed with the result, saying that his?team?dominated?the?game.?Serbia?had 14 shots on goal against Australia's six and had a 14-1 advantage on?corner?kicks.

"We?had?so?many?chances?but?unfortunately?failed?to?capitalize on them,"?Djukic?said,?also citing Shanghai's?sultry weather.

Elsewhere, the United States beat Japan 1-0 in Tianjin while favorites the Netherlands and Nigeria played out a goalless draw in Group B. And Italy beat Honduras 3-0 with Cameroon and South Korea drawing 1-1 in Group D matches in Qinhuangdao.