BEIJING // Sergio Aguero scored two goals in seven second-half minutes, and later set up another to lead Argentina to a win over their fiercest rivals Brazil and into their second consecutive final. The match in front of a crowd of nearly 53,000 at Workers' Stadium marked the encounter of the tournament's top stars, former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
Both players displayed their uncanny skills, but Messi threatened the most and created dangerous scoring chances for Argentina. Aguero opened the scoring for the defending champions by chesting in a cross from the left in the 52nd minute, then tapped in a driven centre from the right in the 58th. Aguero also won the 76th-minute penalty kick that was converted by Juan Roman Riquelme. Argentina, trying to become the first nation to win consecutive golds in 40 years, will now face Nigeria in a rematch of the 1996 final in Atlanta, when the Africans won 3-2 for their first and only title.
Earlier, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi scored two goals, including one from 30 yards, as Nigeria secured a 4-1 win over Belgium. The African side took control with goals by Olubayo Adefemi after 17 minutes and a brace from Ogbuke Obasi - after 59 and 72 minutes - before Chibuzor Okonkwo added a fourth in the 76th. Belgium replied two minutes from the end with a 25-yard free kick from Laurent Ciman. The coach Samson Siasia was about to take Ogbuke Obasi off just before his second goal, which put the tie beyond doubt.