Bovo bonus for Italy
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Article summary
Cesare Bovo's 116th-minute header sent Italy through to the semi-finals of the Olympic men's tournament.
Article body
Italy reached the semi-finals of the Olympic men's football tournament in dramatic fashion on Saturday evening as Cesare Bovo headed the winning goal against Mali with just four minutes of extra time remaining.
Even tussle
In an even encounter at the Karaiskaki stadium in Athens, neither side was able to create much in the way of clear goalscoring opportunities and it looked as if the match was destined to be decided by a penalty shoot-out after nearly two hours of football without a goal.
Headed winner
However, US Lecce defender Bovo headed the winner in the 116th minute to send Claudio Gentile's side – winners of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – through to a semi-final at the same venue on Tuesday. Italy's opponents will be favourites Argentina, who brushed aside Costa Rica 4-0.
Impressive Iraq
In the other early quarter-final, a spectacular overhead kick from Qatar-based midfield player Emad Mohammed earned Iraq victory against Australia and a semi-final against Paraguay, who defeated South Korea by the odd goal in five.
