Di Maria’s stunner gives Argentina gold in Beijing; Brazil collect Olympic bronze by beating Belgium; Jets rally against the Glory in a thriller down under

Nigeria 0 - Argentina 1 (Olympics final, August 23, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) The first half was a stale affair (highlights here). After the break Messi slipped a pass to Angel Di Maria who broke clear on the halfway line and beat Vanzekin with an exquisite chipped finish. After that Nigeria had their fair share of chances, but were unable to beat goalkeeper Sergio Romero, leaving Argentina to celebrate retaining their gold medals.

Belgium 0 - Brazil 3 (Olympics third-place playoff, August 22, 2008) Dunga was looking to save some of his credibility by beating Belgium, and the Samba boys moved ahead with a free-flowing move just before the half hour mark, Jo played in Rafinha down the right hand side, and the full-back’s cross was turned home by Diego. Belgium reacted well having chances to equalise, but Brazil netted a killer second on the stroke on half-time, Jo nodded home a loose ball after an initial shot was parried. (First half highlights here.) At the death Manchester City’s Jo bagged his second of the game, picking up the ball just inside the Belgium half, racing towards goal and firing home the third.

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Hannover 0 - Energie Cottbus 0 (Bundesliga, August 22, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Cottbus hung on for a draw despite finishing the match with 10 men. The major talking point was the dismissal of Daniel Ziebig six minutes from time for a second bookable offense. Both teams picked up their first point of the season.

Greuther Furth 5 - St. Pauli 2 (Bundesliga II, August 22, 2008) (First half highlights here, second half highlights here.)

FSV Frankfurt 0 - Koblenz 0 (Bundesliga II, August 22, 2008)

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Vitoria Guimaraes 1 - Vitoria Setubal 1 (Superliga, August 22, 2008) The new season in Portugal kicked off with a stalemate. Douglas scored a back post header to give Guimaraes the lead but they were pegged back in the 82nd minute when Elias forced his way into the box to get on the end of a cross which he buried.

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Vannes 1 - Troyes 0 (Ligue 2, August 22, 2008)

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Finn Harps 2 - Cobh Ramblers 2 (Irish Premier League, August 22, 2008) Goals from McCafferty and Byrne had the Harps in control, but a penalty from O’Neill set up a nervous last half hour, and basement side Cobh found a late leveller through Kavanagh.

Galway 0 - Bohemians 2 (Irish Premier League, August 22, 2008) After Deegan gave Bohemians a 7th minute lead, Kalonas netted a second just before the break. Bohemians had to see out the last half hour with just nine players after Murphy and Donnell both saw red.

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Metalist 2 - Illychivets 0 (Vyscha Liga, August 22, 2008)

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Ruch Chorzow 2 - Polonia Bytom 1 (Ekstraklasa, August 22, 2008) Zablocki put the visitors ahead with a fabulous strike, chesting down a lovely left wing before smacking a beauty past the keeper. But Sobczak knocked home an equalise from a corner in the 33rd minute. (First half goals here.) Ruch stole the points ten minutes from time, Sobczak hitting a brace with a header that looked distinctively offside.

Wisla Krakow 2 - Belchatow 1 (Ekstraklasa, August 22, 2008) Wisla took control of their game when their lead marksmen Brozek once again found the net in the 23rd minute. The hosts pulled further ahead thanks to an own goal from Pietrasiak, before Belchatow netted their own own goal through Cleber.

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Perth Glory 3 - Newcastle Jets 3 (A-League, August 22, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) The Jets took the lead in the 19th minute through a Joel Griffiths penalty before Adrian Trinidad, on his Glory debut, won and converted a penalty nine minutes before the break. The Jets regained the lead when Jin-Hyung Song scored following poor defending from the hosts before Eugene Dadi equalised once again with a towering header. The Glory then looked to have bagged the points when Nikita Rukavytsya raced clear and fired home nine minutes from time, but in the 94th minute captain Jade North popped up to earn the Jets a share of the spoils.

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Rosario Central 0 - Colon 1 (Apertura, August 22, 2008) Aguilar’s header before half-time separated the sides.

Gimnasia La Plata 1 - Huracan 0 (Apertura, August 22, 2008) An 87th minute header from Alonso gave the points to the hosts.

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Deportivo Cuenca 2 - Tecnico Universitario 0 (Campeonato Ecuatoriano, August 22, 2008)