Rio de Janeiro: Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa scored and set up Jonathan Calleri’s winner as 10-man Argentina avoided adding an early Olympic Games exit to Copa America heartbreak with a 2-1 win over Algeria in Rio.
World champions Germany also dug themselves out of trouble as a stoppage-time equaliser from Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry salvaged a thrilling 3-3 draw against South Korea in Salvador.
Hosts Brazil hope to kickstart their campaign for a maiden football Olympic gold later on Sunday against Iraq in Brasilia after stumbling to a 0-0 draw with South Africa in their opener.
Argentina’s preparations for the Olympics were hugely undermined by a corruption crisis engulfing the country’s football federation.
Coach Julio Olarticoechea was put in charge for the Games just weeks before their opening 2-0 defeat to Portugal following Gerardo Martino’s resignation after a second Copa America final defeat to Chile in as many years.
Olarticoechea’s options were also slashed by a number of high-profile pullouts and European clubs not releasing their players so close to the start of the season.
However, it was Calleri, one of those called in at the last minute to replace Correa’s former Atletico team-mate Luciano Vietto, who bundled home the winner 20 minutes from time.
Argentina captain Victor Cuesta put his side in real trouble just before half-time when picked up an unnecessary second yellow card.
Yet, Correa — who starred as Argentina qualified for the Games by winning last year’s South American under-20 championships — drilled home the opener from Calleri’s flick-on just two minutes into the second period.
Sofiane Bendebka levelled 14 minutes later, but Algeria were also reduced to 10 men when Ayoub Abdellaoui saw a second yellow card.
And Argentina instantly took advantage when the ball ricocheted off Calleri and into the net despite a desperate lunge from Algeria ‘keeper Farid Chaal.
Argentina still need to beat Honduras in their final Group D game on Wednesday to qualify for the quarter-finals. Portugal are already assured of their place in the last eight after beating Honduras 2-1 in Rio.
Goals from Tobias Figueiredo and Goncalo Paciencia cancelled out Alberth Elis’s first minute opener.
