Despite three penalties being awarded either side of the team, the Albiceleste were sent packing as they failed to qualify for the next round of the 2016 Rio Olympics in men’s football category.
After starting their campaign with defeat to Portugal, Julio
Olarticoechea’s men bounced back in the second match by beating Algeria
2-1. That result left the two-time Olympic champions needing a victory
against the Central Americans to progress, but they fell short in an
action-packed match.
Honduras, could have gone ahead from the penalty spot in the final minute of the opening period but Geronimo Rulli kept out Bryan Acosta’s kick. Angel Correa missed his own penalty after the break, hitting the post, before Anthony Lozano made it third-time lucky in beating Rulli from 12 yards with just 15 minutes to go.
The Albiceleste received a lifeline when Mauricio Martinez crashed home an injury-time free kick, but it was too little too late as Honduras go through to the quarters alongside group leaders Portugal, who drew 1-1 with Algeria. The exit marks yet another failure for Argentina at youth level, after also going out of the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups in the first round last year.
Too bad for the Argentine football team in whole, as they failed to lift a silverware in as many competition in both senior and junior categories respectively.