Olympic football round-up

Messi: Celebrating his opener

Thursday's results:
Group A
Australia 1 Serbia 1
Ivory Coast 1 Argentina 2
Group B
Japan 0 USA 1
Holland 0 Nigeria 0
Group C
Brazil 1 Belgium 0
China 1 New Zealand 1
Group D
Honduras 0 Italy 3
Korea Republic 1 Cameroon 1

Lionel Messi helped Argentina get off to a winning start, while there was also a flurry of red cards.

Five players were dismissed during the opening round of fixtures as the Beijing games started with a bang.

Group A favourites Argentina were inspired by Barcelona star Messi, who has been granted permission to remain with his country for the entirety of the tournament, as the diminutive playmaker grabbed their opener in a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast.

He struck two minutes before the interval against their African opponents, who forced an equaliser on 53 minutes through Sekou Cisse.

However, it was the South Americans who finished the stronger and grabbed a winner with just four minutes remaining when Lautaro Acosta tapped home following a mesmerising run from Messi.

The other fixture in Group A saw Australia held 1-1 by Serbia.

Ruben Zadovich gave the Socceroos the lead on 69 minutes, only to see Slobodan Rajkovic snatch a leveller 10 minutes later.

Group B provided little in terms of goalmouth action as the two fixtures produced just a solitary strike between them.

Holland and Nigeria played out a goalless draw, in a game which saw Evander Sno dismissed for the Dutch, while the United States ground out a 1-0 win over Japan.

Houston Dynamo's Scottish-born midfielder Stuart Holden was the hero for USA as he fired home a 25-yard winner two minutes into the second half.

Brazil's galaxy of stars failed to sparkle in Group C as they stumbled to a 1-0 success against Belgium.

It took until 11 minutes from time for Dunga's men to force a breakthrough, with Hernanes snatching what was to prove the decisive goal.

However, their cause was helped by Vincent Kompany (72) and Marouane Fellaini (88) seeing red late out on for the Belgians.

Elsewhere in the group, China could only manage a 1-1 draw with New Zealand.

The hosts fell behind to a Jeremy Brockie strike on 53 minutes, but earned a point thanks to Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo's 88th minute equaliser.

The fact that New Zealand were able to hold out for so long is commendable, given that they were reduced to 10 men on 39 minutes when Steven Old was shown a second yellow card.

Group D saw Italy stroll to a 3-0 win over Honduras and Korea Republic held to a 1-1 draw by Cameroon.

Sebatsian Giovinco (41) gave the Italians the lead in their contest, before a penalty apiece from Giuseppe Rossi (45) and Robert Acquafresca (52) rounded off the scoring.

Honduras did have a late chance to add some respectability to the score line, but Carlos Pavon lifted a spot kick over the bar with eight minutes left on the clock.

A 68th minute striker from Chu-Young Park appeared to have given Korea Republic all three points against Cameroon, but Georges Mandjeck restored parity with nine minutes remaining.

Both sides then appeared happy to settle for a point, but there was still time for Albert Baning to be dismissed for the Africans deep into injury time.