20 minutes of stoppage time, almost two hours of interruption and a crazy video review:

The Olympic soccer tournament got off to a start that was as chaotic as it was memorable. More than four hours after the kick-off, co-favorites Argentina ended up losing 2:1 (1:1) to Morocco after the Albiceleste had initially enjoyed a 2:2 draw.

Cristian Medina had thought he had saved Argentina a point in Saint-Etienne with his supposed header in the 16th minute of stoppage time. Everyone assumed that referee Glenn Nyberg (Sweden) would then call the game to an end, the teams went into the dressing rooms and many of the 35,000 fans stormed onto the pitch.

But after a long stoppage in play, both teams were suddenly back on the pitch, Nyberg watched the scene of the supposed 2:2 on a screen on the touchline – and then ruled offside. The goal did not count, the game continued for a few more minutes – but Argentina did not score again.

And so Morocco, led by former Dortmund player Achraf Hakimi, actually managed to spring a big surprise against the Argentinians, with the South Americans not coming up with much despite the two world champions Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) and Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica Lisbon). It was only in the closing stages that the team of coach Javier Mascherano, who won the Olympics as a player in 2004 and 2008, turned up the heat.

After Soufiane Rahimi’s brace (45.+2 and 51./foul penalty), Giuliano Simeone (68.) also scored the equalizer – the son of Diego Simeone (coach of Atletico Madrid) had only just come on as a substitute. The Argentinians then missed further good opportunities, before referee Nyberg awarded the Argentinians XXL extra time – and Medina celebrated the supposed equalizer after a spectacular situation with several crossbars. Before the whistle was blown again and the goal was taken back.

Meanwhile, Spain got off to a winning start, beating Uzbekistan 2:1 (1:1) in Paris. Marc Pubill (29) and former Dortmund player Sergio Gomez (62) scored for the silver medallists from Tokyo, while Eldor Shomurodov equalized with a penalty (45.+3).