Argentina vs Morocco 1-2: Paris Olympics 2024 football – as it happened

The first dose of sporting action at Paris 2024 certainly didn’t disappoint, with Argentina and Morocco treating us to a brilliant draw in Saint Etienne.

Tonight, we’ll see the host nation in action as Thierry Henry’s France face the USA in Marseille.

We’ll be bringing you a live blog of that match, as our Olympics coverage clicks into gear.

Stay with Al Jazeera Sport over the next few weeks as we bring you all of the latest news from Paris.

For now – from me, Adam Hancock, and from Patrick Keddie – it’s goodbye.

It looked like there were a fair few fans on the pitch as the full-time whistle was blown in Saint Etienne.

That wasn’t an isolated incident, either, with the game stopping on several occasions due to pitch invaders.

You’d expect a certain level of security at the Olympic Games, and no doubt the organisers will be investigating what went wrong.

While we were following all of the drama in Saint Etienne, Spain and Uzbekistan were getting their Olympic campaigns under way in Paris.

Sergio Gomez scored twice for Spain as the Tokyo silver medallists got off to a winning start in the French capital.

They go straight to the top of Group C, with Egypt and Dominican Republic the other teams in that group.

All the feels! The emotion is real! 🥹#Paris2024 | #Football pic.twitter.com/0cOsN09cv7

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 24, 2024

After all of that drama, Argentina and Morocco end up with a point apiece.

That leaves them joint top of Group B ahead of Iraq vs Ukraine, which is taking place in a few hours in Lyon.

Argentina will next be in action on Saturday when they face Iraq while Morocco will remain in Saint Etienne for their next match against Ukraine, which is also on Saturday.

What a start to the Olympic football tournament.

Argentina fought back from two goals down to pick up a point against Morocco.

It was a frantic finish with Argentina piling forward in the dying moments of the match. Morocco will question why 15 minutes were added on, but the South Americans showed a real fighting spirit to dig themselves out of trouble.

There are question marks about the inclusion of football at the games, but this match shows exactly how much it means to the players involved.

نهاية المباراة بتعادل منتخبنا الوطني الأولمبي أمام منتخب الأرجنتين
𝗙𝗧. 🇦🇷2-2🇲🇦
The match ends in a draw#DimaMaghrib | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/IYYnF46TcU

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) July 24, 2024

The referee calls it a day.

There was probably more time to be added on, but he’s decided to end it after that late, late Argentina goal.

Full-time: Argentina 2-2 Morocco

Incredible drama!!

An unbelievable period of play. Argentina hit the bar twice in the space of seconds before the ball falls to Medina, who heads home from close range.

90+15 mins: Argentina 2-2 Morocco

Rahimi is on the floor. I’ve lost count of how many players have been down hurt in this match.

There’s another half-chance for Alvarez, who heads an effort wide from the penalty spot.

90+14 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Argentina keep coming.

Echeverri picks up the second ball in the box, but he fires an effort at a Moroccan defender.

How much time will the referee add on to the 15?

90+12 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Rahimi is on the floor for a considerable amount of time, no doubt adding to the stoppage time.

Mascherano is not happy on the touchline. The assistant referee is getting an earful.

90+11 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

It’s total chaos now. There’s so much happening.

Simeone breaks down the right. His attempted cross is blocked, but the ball loops up to the roof of the net. El Kajoui looked nervous for a moment.

We’re just over halfway in stoppage time.

90+8 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

There’s an off the ball incident, with Alvarez shoving an opponent in the chest.

Very petulant from the Man City man.

There are some very tired players out there now. Hakimi is one of them, he makes a laboured challenge to try and intercept a pass to Amione.

The Argentinian picks up the ball but fires over from a good position. There is now another stoppage with more fans on the pitch.

90+6 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Benjamin Bouchouari is on for the final 15 minutes. He replaces Bilal El Khannouss.

He’s immediately into the action, picking up the ball just outside the box and shuffling to the right before firing a shot wide.

90+2 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

That’s not a typo, I promise. Extraordinary.

90 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Fernandez is booked after a shocking challenge on Kechta.

That was reckless, he jumped in two-footed and looked to be out of control. I’m surprised he didn’t get sent off for that.

El Kajoui came flying out of his goal to complain about the challenge and was also booked.

89 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Morocco are sitting deeper and deeper as they cling on to this lead.

It’s all Argentina right now. Can they find a breakthrough?

88 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Hakimi drills in a low corner from the right. It’s a nice move, but the referee blows for a foul on an Argentinian player.

Less than five minutes of normal time left in Saint Etienne.

86 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Another change for Argentina. Joaquin Garcia is subbed off for Claudio Echeverri.

84 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Alvarez is so close to a leveller.

He picks up the ball in the centre of the box. He manages to sort his feet and get a shot off, but El Kajoui makes the save.

The keeper then smothers the ball to stop a second attempt and near certain goal.

82 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco

Yassine Kechta is on, replacing Ben Seghir.

El Azzouzi has also trudged off the field, with Akram Nakach coming on for the final 10 minutes or so.

81 mins: Argentina 1-2 Morocco