Di Maria separates slow entertainers

Argentina and Nigeria play out a lifeless gold medal match as temperatures on the Birds Nest pitch hit 42°C.

The Argentina players celebrate players celebrate after winning gold yesterday.

BEIJING // Argentina and Nigeria, two of the most entertaining football teams in the Games, played out a lifeless gold medal match yesterday as temperatures on the Birds Nest pitch hit 42°C. Angel di Maria scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win at the Birds Nest, chipping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin in the 58th minute.

Both coaches said their teams were affected by the searing heat in a match which kicked off at midday in Beijings notoriously sapping summer. The match was stopped for water breaks in the 30th and 70th minutes, a decision footballs governing body Fifa said had been taken beforehand in agreement with team doctors. A Fifa official said temperatures reached 32°C in the shade and were another 10°C higher on the field.

The game, between two sides who won their semi-finals by three-goal margins, was a huge disappointment, played mostly at walking pace. The only surprise was that Nigeria managed to play 30 minutes of sustained attacking football after falling behind to Di Maria's goal. The Fifa president Sepp Blatter and vice president Julio Grondona, both wearing suits, also looked uncomfortable as they handed out medals and flowers to the three medal-winning teams (Brazil won the bronze).

"I think it actually affected both countries," the Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said. "Most players didn't perform to their best level because of the heat. We don't make the rules. They said we had to play the game at 12 o'clock, which I didn't think was a very good idea." His opposite number Sergio Batista said his team had to adapt their style to cope with the conditions. "I don't want to comment on the organisation," he said.

"Of course, it was not the same spectacle as it would have been [with an evening kick off], it was very hot and the players felt it. "We had to adapt to the temperature and play intelligently." The men's football final was the only one to be played in Beijing's main Olympic stadium, and it was watched by a crowd of 89,102 that included the former Argentina great Diego Maradona. "I didn't dream of scoring in the final," Di Maria said. "But I'm happy that I was able to get the ball in and that we got what we wanted."

* Reuters