Olympic Soccer 2016: Men's Results, Group Table After Wednesday Matches
Wednesday was the final day of group play in the men's soccer tournament at the Rio Games, with a number of teams either fighting for qualification to the quarterfinal round or jockeying for position.
Below, we'll break down the day's results and group tables before the knockout phase commences.
Group D
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Results
| Algeria | 1-1 | Portugal |
| Argentina | 1-1 | Honduras |
Standings
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Honduras | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Algeria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Recap
Honduras and Portugal booked their spots in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, as Honduras shocked Argentina by drawing with the powerhouse, while Portugal drew even with Algeria to remain atop the group.
Honduras was the story, however, knocking the favored Argentines out of the tournament altogether, led by Anthony Lozano's 75th-minute penalty conversion. Lautaro Gianetti's poor challenge in the box on Alberth Elis set up the penalty.
Amazingly, it was the game's third penalty. Ellis earned the game's first penalty for Honduras in first-half stoppage time, but Geronimo Rulli saved Bryan Acosta's weak effort. Then Marcelo Pereira fouled Argentina's Jonathan Calleri in the box in the 54th minute, but Angel Correa shockingly hit the right post with his low effort.
Argentina would equalise in second-half stoppage time, as Mauricio Martinez's set piece from just outside of the box deflected off of the wall and into the net. But Argentina, trailing Honduras on goal differential, couldn't find the winner in the closing moments, sending Honduras to the knockout phase.
Ed Malyon of the Mirror and Juan G. Arango of ESPN suggested that Argentina's failure may have extended beyond just the players, however:
Portugal, already in the driver's seat after two wins in the group stage, advanced atop the group with a 1-1 draw against Algeria. Goncalo Paciencia's 25th-minute penalty put Portugal in the driver's seat, though Algeria equalised just five minutes later. Neither team could find the winner, though Portugal was more than happy with the draw.
Portugal will now face Germany, not much of a reward for winning their group, while Honduras will face South Korea.
Group C
Results
| Germany | 10-0 | Fiji |
| South Korea | 1-0 | Mexico |
Standings
| South Korea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 |
| Germany | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| Mexico | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Fiji | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -22 | 0 |
Recap
The defending gold-medal winners, Mexico, were knocked out of the 2016 tournament after losing 1-0 to South Korea on Wednesday.
Mexico, which needed to win after Germany surpassed them on goal differential with a 10-0 win over Fiji, gave up a 77th-minute goal to Chang-Hoon Kwon, sealing their fate. The win ensured that South Korea won Group C, meanwhile, with Germany finishing second.
Tom Marshall of ESPN FC broke down the disappointing effort from Mexico, and the tactically sound approach from South Korea:
"Mexico may have been the better team for long periods against Korea Republic, but this was an El Tri side that was blunt in attack, efficient but lacking ideas in midfield, and unable to produce in defense when it mattered most.
When Korea Republic's Chang-Hoon Kwon waltzed through the Mexican defense—which provided very little by way of resistance—and netted the crucial goal in the 77th minute it was the Asian nation's first shot on target. It was also the culmination of a well-prepared and executed plan to stifle Mexico and get the draw or win that Korea Republic needed to guarantee its place in the quarterfinals.
"
With Mexico now eliminated, Ives Galarcep of Goal.com wondered who was left as the favorite in this tournament:
Germany will certainly feel better about their chances after a convincing victory over Fiji that saw Serge Gnabry (8', 45'), Nils Petersen (14', 33', 40', 63' penalty, 70') and Maximilian Meyer (30', 49', 52') find the back of the net.
Germany's route to a gold medal won't get any easier, however, as Portugal awaits. South Korea, meanwhile, will avoid Argentina and instead will face a dangerous Honduras side.
Group B
Results
| Colombia | 2-0 | Nigeria |
| Japan | 1-0 | Sweden |
Standings
| Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Colombia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Japan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Sweden | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Recap
Colombia ensured they'll reach the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Nigeria—which had already clinched the top spot in Group B—on Wednesday.
That left Japan out in the cold after the Japanese did their part, beating Sweden 1-0.
Teofilo Gutierrez (4') and Dorlan Pabon (63' penalty) were the goalscorers for the Colombians in their win, while Shinya Yajima (65') scored the lone goal for Japan.
Up next for Nigeria will be Group A's winner, which going into the final group of games could be any of the four teams—Denmark, Iraq, Brazil or South Africa—in the group. Colombia will face the runner-up.
One concern for Nigeria should be the team's defense.
While Wednesday's game was essentially meaningless for Nigeria, giving up two goals should still be a concern. Yes, the Nigerians have scored an impressive six goals in the tournament, but they've also given up six. And since their opening 5-4 win over Japan, the Nigerians have scored just one goal.
To put that into perspective, the other two group winners as of Nigeria's loss on Wednesday night, South Korea and Portugal, had goal differentials of plus-nine and plus-three, respectively. Of the six teams to advance to the knockout phase, only Nigeria and Honduras lack a positive goal differential.
Group A
Results
| Denmark | Brazil | |
| South Africa | Iraq |
Standings
| Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +4 | 5 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 4 |
| Iraq | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| South Africa | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
Recap
Brazil survived and advanced with authority as it drubbed Denmark 4-0 to secure a quarterfinal showdown with Colombia on Saturday.
Despite playing to two scoreless draws in its first two games, the host nation rebounded with a superb effort in a tight spot.
Gabriel Barbosa got the party started in the 26th minute with the game's first tally, and Brazil poured it on from there. Gabriel Jesus and Luan scored in the 40th and 50th minutes, respectively, and Barbosa secured a brace with a goal for good measure with just 10 minutes remaining.
To put Brazil's dominance in perspective, Neymar and Co. snatched a whopping 75 percent share of the game's possession and outshot Denmark 10-1 when it came to attempts on net.
In Group A's final contest, Iraq and South Africa played to a 1-1 draw that allowed Denmark to escape Wednesday's embarrassment and limp into the quarterfinals with a second-place finish behind the Brazilians.
Gift Motupa scored in the sixth minute for South Africa and Iraq's Saad Luaibi leveled things just eight minutes later, and a stalemate from that point forward prevented either side from capitalizing on Denmark's failures.
Denmark will now square off against Nigeria when quarterfinal play gets underway.
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