Day 1 Olympic Coverage || July 24
Edition #121
The 2024 Olympics are taking place in Paris, France.
Day 1 was over about a few hours ago, and here’s everything that happened in Paris. The Opening Ceremony is on Friday, but because of the number of games that they need to get to in a short amount of time, the games began today with Soccer and Rugby. Names are last name - first name.
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SOCCER:
Group A:
New Zealand vs Guinea: NZ 2 - GU 1
In the 25th minute, New Zealand’s Garbett Matthew scored NZ’s first goal of the game after six New Zealand attempts. This was Matthew’s third attempt. After that, there were absolutely no goals until the 72nd minute when Guinea’s Diawara Amadou scored! The score became 1-1. 4 minutes later, New Zealand’s Waine Ben scored a goal, and even with 4 other chances for Guinea to score which includes a direct free-kick, they couldn’t convert and Guinea dropped to last place in Group A.
United States vs France:
It was a pretty competitive game at halftime with the score being 0-0. After that though, France showed why they’re a dominant team even without Mbappe. LACAZETTE Alexandre, BADE Loic, and OLISE Michael each scored a goal in the second half finishing things up and beating up the US team.
Group B:
Argentina vs Morocco:
No goals were scored until the 45th minute + 2. That was when Morocco’s RAHIMI SOUFIANE made the first goal. 4 minutes into the second half RAHIMI SOUFIANE WITH ANOTHER GOAL!!! It was a penalty attempt. Argentina was down 2-0 until the 68th minute when SIMEONE GIULIANO hit a goal. After that, even with 2 more attempts and 19 minutes of stoppage time, they couldn’t find a way to score. By the way, Messi isn’t playing the Olympics. This is the U23 team playing.
Final score: Argentina 1 - Morocco 2
Iraq vs Ukraine:
Ukraine Goal 1: 53rd minute by RUBCHYNSKYI VALENTYN
Iraq Goal 1: 56th minute by AYMEN HUSSEIN
Iraq Goal 2: 75th minute by Ali Jasim
FINAL SCORE: Iraq 2 - Ukraine 1
Group C
Spain vs Uzbekistan
Spain Goal 1: 29th minute by PUBILL Marc
Uzbekistan Goal 1: 45+3 on penalty attempt by SHOMURODOV ELDOR
Spain Goal 2: 62nd minute by GOMEZ Sergio, assisted by MIRANDA Juan
FINAL SCORE: Spain 2 - Uzbekistan 1
Egypt vs Dominican Republic:
There were no goals scored in this game. It was a 0-0 tie.
Group D
Japan vs Paraguay:
This was an absolute blowout. It started off as if Paraguay could actually contend. Japan scored their first goal in the 19th minute and it was 1-0 through the first half. Then… things just fell apart… In the 63rd minute, MITO Shunsuke scored his second goal of the day. 6 minutes later, YAMAMOTO Rihito scored a goal! In the 81st minute, FUJIO Shota scored his first goal. It was 4-0, and Japan probably should’ve stopped there.
But, they didn’t.
6 minutes later, they scored their final goal of the game score by Shota again and utterly embarrassed Paraguay.
FINAL: Japan 5 - Paraguay 0
Mali vs Israel
We don’t see many own goals often, but it happened in this one. In fact, Mali would have won this game if not for an own goal by DIALLO Hamidou. This game ended up in a tie of 1-1 all because of the own goal.
RUGBY SEVENS:
Pool A:
Ireland vs South Africa
The first half was sloppy, with just one score and no replacements made by both teams. The score was from Ireland by CONROY Jordan, but the conversion was missed. It was 5-0 Ireland heading into the half. The 2nd half was more entertaining, however, because 3 minutes and 45 minutes in, OOSTHUIZEN Ryan received a yellow card. Ireland scored again by KENNEDY Terry with no conversion. South Africa got one score back, as DAVIDS Selvyn scores BUT couldn’t get the conversion as WILLIAMS Shaun sold. Ireland held on for the last 3 minutes and took the W away from South Africa, 10-5, in a low-scoring game.
FINAL SCORE: Ireland 10 - South Africa 5
New Zealand vs Japan
New Zealand started scoring points when ROKOLISOA Akuila scored with the conversion being scored by that same player. Japan did indeed respond by a score from TSUOKA Shotaro and TANINAKA Kippei to tie the game. It all goes downhill for Japan after that. FINEANGANOFO Fehi scored New Zealand 5 points and 2 minutes and 40 seconds later, he did it again, but this time, ROKOLISOA Akuila helped this score be 7 points. McGARVEY-BLACK Ngarohi topped off the half with 7 points, with the conversion by the same person who made all the conversions for New Zealand in the first half. It’s 26-7. New Zealand has a huge lead. But they wouldn’t stop there. 33 seconds into the 2nd half, ROKOLISOA Akuila scored, and the conversion by the same player. The final blow for New Zealand came in from McGARVEY-BLACK Ngarohi and the conversion by KNEWSTUBB Andrew. All of this gave New Zealand a 40-7 lead over a Japan team that didn’t really have a chance to win. They just scored 5 points near the end of the game by ISHIDA Taiga. The Blacks won by 28, in a complete blowout.
FINAL SCORE: New Zealand 40 - Japan 12
Ireland vs Japan
Guess who’s back? That same Japanese team that got blown out by The Blacks because New Zealand is just too good at rugby. Ireland came off a slim victory over South Africa. Ireland scored the first points by KENNEDY Terry with a conversion from LENNOX Hugo. Japan didn’t respond as Ireland got more points before the half by MULLINS Chay and the conversion from LENNOX Hugo. 14-0 Ireland into the half Japan had a chance to come back. That didn’t happen. McNULTY Harry, COMERFORD Niall, MULLINS Chay, and WARD Zac completed the blowout as Japan was only able to score once. Japan had a -63-point differential today, which surprises me. Japan currently sits a last place (obviously) in Pool A, while Ireland sits in 2nd.
FINAL SCORE: Ireland 40 - Japan 5
New Zealand vs South Africa
The game started with a wacky note, as NORTJE Quewin, a South African player was replaced 29 seconds into the game because of rugby concussion protocols. LEO Moses scored New Zealand’s first points as they took a 5-0 lead in just a minute. DAVIDS Selvyn responded just around 2 minutes after the first score to tie the game. A conversion that would’ve given South Africa the lead was missed by LEYDS Tristan. CURRY Scott was then replaced due to concussion protocols. McGARVEY-BLACK Ngarohi scored the last points of the half. All conversions this half were missed. In the second half, South Africans couldn’t become the first-half ones as they let New Zealand pull away with the win by letting LEO Moses score again. This time, the conversion was made by ROKOLISOA Akuila. ROKOLISOA has gotten tons of conversions on day 1. The Blacks started the rugby tournament of the Olympics by winning their first 2 games as they sit in first in their pool so far. South Africa is 3rd.
FINAL SCORE: New Zealand 17 - South Africa 5
Pool B:
Australia vs Samoa
The first points were scored by Samoa, which was a try from OPETAI Motu (scorer) and SCANLAN Paul (conversion) to make it 0-7, 2:38 into the half. Australia responds with points of their own by HUTCHISON Henry and ROACHE Dietrich to tie the game up. In the second half, LAWSON Nathan and ROACHE Dietrich worked together to score 7 more points for Australia 4 minutes into the second half. Just 2 minutes and 48 seconds later, HUTCHISON Henry and ROACHE Dietrich score ANOTHER 7 points. That brings their points totals to 14 points scored together! Samoa tried to come back with FALANNIKO Faafoi scoring and a MAIAVA Tom conversion but that wasn’t enough. Australia held on and won, 21-14.
FINAL SCORE: Australia 21 - Samoa 14
Argentina vs Kenya
Kenya started the scoring with a try converted by OJWANG Chrisant and MBOYA Anthony to give Kenya an 0-7 lead 4 minutes into the first half. Argentina then responded with FRAGA Augustin scoring, but couldn’t get the conversion. It was 5-7 to Kenya heading into the 2nd half. Argentina scored AGAIN by FRAGA Agustin + a conversion by PELLANDINI Joaquin to take a 12-7 lead in JUST SECONDS after the half started. Kenya did come up with a response with WEKESA Kevin scoring with no conversion to tie it up. Argentina then pulled away with the W with scores by ELIZADE Tomas and PELLANDINI Joaquin, GONZALEZ Luciano and MARE Santiago, and MONETA Marcos, who is coming off a broken leg in April. Argentina won this game, 31-12.
FINAL SCORE: Argentina 31 - Kenya 12
Australia vs Kenya:
It was a pretty good start for both teams in the first half. Through about 4 minutes, both teams had scored the conversion and the try. To cap off the first half Australia made the try and hit the conversion to lead 14-7. 5 minutes and 12 seconds into the second half, TOOLE Corey, who was subbed in about 1 minute and 30 seconds ago, hit a try to finish the game for Kenya most definitely.
Argentina vs Samoa:
It was all Argentina in the first half. They made every single conversion and converted 3 tries. In the second half, Argentina scored as quickly as possible, and while Samoa did score in the end, it was too little too late for the rugby players of Samoa.
FINAL SCORE: Argentina 28 - Samoa 12
Pool C:
France vs United States:
In the first half of this game, France took the lead immediately but didn’t make the conversion. The US went on to score and actually make the conversion. It was 7-5 at the half. In the next half, it was the exact opposite with France hitting the conversion and the try and the US hitting the try, but not the conversion.
FINAL SCORE: France 12 - US 12
Fiji vs Uruguay
Fiji showed exactly why they’re the defending champs by beating up Uruguay 40-12. There’s nothing else to say about this game.
FINAL SCORE: Fiji 40 - Uruguay 12
Fiji vs United States
Fiji does it again. There’s nothing else to say about this game.
FINAL SCORE: Fiji 38 - Uruguay 12
France vs Uruguay
France jumps to an early lead as they score with ZEGHDAR Antoine 2 minutes into the game. They missed the conversion so it was 5-0. Uruguay responds just before halftime with a score from FACCIOLO Ignacio plus the conversion for the lead. Uruguay lead at the break, 5-7. 1 minute and 30 seconds after the 2nd half started, France scores to reclaim the lead thanks to DUPONT Antoine and the conversion by BARRAQUE Jean Pascal.
OLYMPICS SCHEDULE TOMORROW
