INDONESIA HOTLINE

Argentina downs Nigeria 1-0 in men's gold-medal match

BEIJING (AP) -- Angel di Maria provided the finish to another piece of Lionel Messi magic and Argentina won its second Olympic soccer title in a row, a 1-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday.

Di Maria collected Messi's expertly timed through ball in the 58th minute and nonchalantly lobbed it over Nigeria's goalkeeper to give 2004 winner Argentina another gold medal and leave the Nigerians, champions in 1996, the silver.

Brazil won the bronze on Friday by beating Belgium 3-0 in Shanghai but now has to live with the fact its southern neighbor has two Olympic titles and it has none. After the final, Ronaldinho and his teammates stood on the field to collect their bronze medals and see the title go to their biggest rivals.

Di Maria's strike was a goal to lift a final which was badly hit by searing temperatures of 107.6 Fahrenheit, the Olympic flame burning high above the field a reminder of how hot it was for the players on the turf. The referee took the rare step of twice allowing players to stop and take drinks.

The only soccer game to be played in Beijing's Olympic stadium, Saturday's match was watched by a crowd of 89,102 - including Argentina great Diego Maradona. But the fans had to wait a long time to be entertained.

Not surprisingly in the searing heat, the game was poor quality in the first half with too many mistakes, misplaced passes and players trying to move slowly around the field to conserve energy.

After Peter Odenwingie's free kick had tested Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero into a diving save in the sixth minute, Juan Roman Riquelme fired one over the bar. Messi had a penalty appeal turned down when he tumbled over Dele Adeleye's challenge and was told to play on by the referee.

Nigeria almost went ahead shortly after the drink break when Odemwingie crossed from the left and Promise Isaac just missed the ball in front of goal. The ball came back and Isaac's looping header was saved by Romero above his head.

Argentina, and Messi in particular, were very disappointing in the first half but Di Maria almost made the breakthrough with a 30-yard shot which Ambruse Vanzekin pushed round the post at full stretch.

Messi produced one of his special moments in the 50th minute when he spun past a defender just outside the area and fired a left-footed drive which Vanzekin punched away.

Then came his pass that set up the goal.

Riquelme went into a tackle inside the center circle and the ball spun out to Messi who immediately released Di Maria clear of the Nigerian defense. The Benfica midfielder had only goalkeeper Vanzekin to beat and nonchalantly lobbed the ball over him into an empty net.

Victor Obinna had a chance to level in the 63rd when he had a clear shot at goal but stabbed it straight at the goalkeeper. Hesitancy by Javier Mascherano in his own area gave Ebenezer Alijore a shot at goal but it rolled wide of the post and then Sani Kaita fired over the bar from the edge of the area.