No sweat for Stars in stripes

In doing so, the South Americans became the first team to win back-to-back gold medals in men’s soccer since Hungary in 1964 and 1968.

“It was tough to get here, but it was worth it,” Messi said. “I knew before coming that it would be worth it.”

The result was hard on the African team, who controlled the first half and did as much attacking as Argentina in the second half but could not conjure up a goal.

The loss was the first in the tournament for the Nigerians, who won the first silver medal of these Games for their country but failed in their ambition to match their countrymen of 1996. Then, at the Atlanta Olympics, Nigeria defeated Argentina for the gold medal.

On Saturday, the Argentines came in as favourites because of a line up that included some of the finest players from some of the top clubs in Europe — Messi from Barcelona, Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid, Fernando Gago from Real Madrid, Javier Mascherano from Liverpool, not to mention Juan Roman Riquelme from Boca Juniors in Argentina.

Noon kick-off takes its toll

They were always going to be a handful, individually and collectively, but they started out slowly on a brutally hot day at a packed National Stadium in Beijing. Kick-off time was noon, and the 107-degree heat took its toll.

Conditions were so severe, that the game was stopped in the 30th minute and again in the 70th minute to allow the players to get some water. Stoppages such as these are unheard of in international soccer and might have been a first.

Nigeria’s game plan was to hold Messi and company in check by defending in numbers and double-teaming the 21-year-old star, who in December will be vying with Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the honour of FIFA world player of the year.

The Africans’ defense-first tactic worked and the first-half ended scoreless, with Argentina looking out of sorts and frustrated.

Well-coordinated game

In the 58th minute, however, Messi struck. Riquelme tackled the ball away from an opponent and it fell to Messi, who sent a perfect pass upfield to spring Di Maria free and send the Benfica player in one on one against advancing goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin.

Di Maria, who had scored against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, was coolness personified. He glanced up, saw the goalkeeper coming out of his net and chipped the ball over his head from 20 yards. It bounced once, on the goal line, and was in the net before the Nigerian defenders could get near it.

“I didn’t think the ball was going to go in, it took forever,” the 20-year-old Di Maria said. “I didn’t dream of scoring in the final.”

The goal proved to be enough to earn Argentina its 12th consecutive victory over two Olympics and to give Messi his long-dreamed of gold medal.

Brazil, who Argentina had beaten in the semi-finals, defeated Belgium, 3-0, to earn the bronze medal.