Tokyo: Brazil started off their Tokyo Olympics Group D campaign in style thrashing a 10-man Germany 4-2 in the menâs football tournament while Australia stunned 2007 champions Argentina on Thursday. In another match of the day, Mexico handed World Champions France a shock 4-1 loss.
At Saitama Stadium, it was a replay of the 2016 Rio Olympics final. Richarlison won Brazil the match inside the first half an hour netting thrice. The Everton star scored in seventh, 22nd and 30th minutes to take the match away but some late drama from the Germans added spice to the tie.
Nadiem Amiri reduced the margin for Germany in the 57th minute before captain Maxi Arnold was sent off five minutes later. Ragner Ache made it 2-4 for the Germans but a last-minute goal from Paulinho sealed the deal.
Elsewhere in Group C, Australia celebrated their 2032 Olympics hosting rights with a 2-0 win over Argentina on their return to the competition. Lachlan Wales scored the opener for the Olyroos before Marco Tilio doubled the lead to secure a mammoth three points.
The last time Australia made an Olympics appearance in the menâs football tournament was in 2008 in Beijing. However, the biggest surprise came in the tournament opener when Mexico scored four second-half goals to stun France at the Tokyo Stadium in Group A.
.@richarlison97 creates history as #BRA beats #GER in their first #Tokyo2020 match! đĨ đ§đˇ #BestOfTokyo | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/EOoxHGV6Oj
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 22, 2021
Alexis Vega gave 2012 champions the lead in the 47th minute before Sebastian Cordova added a second eight minutes later. Andre-Pierre Gignac narrowed the gap for France from the spot But Uriel Atuna (80th) and Eduardo Aguirreâs stoppage-time goal did all for El Tri.
In other matches of the day, New Zealand beat DPR Korea 1-0, Ivory Coast beat Saudi Arabia 2-1, Romania beat Honduras 1-0, hosts Japan beat South Africa 1-0 and Egypt played a goalless stalemate against Spain.
