Argentina's Lautaro Acosta (third from left) is embraced by teammates Nicolas Martin Pareja (12), Lionel Messi (15) and Angel Fabin di Maria (11) after Acosta scored the team's second goal during the first round Group A match against Ivory Coast in Shanghai yesterday. Argentina won 2-1. - AP

BEIJING (AP):

FC BARCELONA forward Lionel Messi scored one goal and set up another in Argentina's 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast at the Olympics yesterday, when three players embroiled in a club versus country court action were finally given permission to remain in Beijing despite a ruling in favour of their European employers.

Diego and Rafinha helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Belgium.

FC Barcelona and German clubs Werder Bremen and Schalke, where Diego and Rafinha are contracted, won a CAS decision that clubs should not be forced to make players eligible for the Olympic tournament. Though the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of the European clubs, all three ultimately allowed their players to suit up for the Beijing Games.

Scoreless draw

In other matches, Nigeria held gold-medal contender Netherlands to a scoreless draw, Italy beat Honduras 3-0, Slobodan Rajkovic equalised with a header from a corner in the 78th minute as Serbia rallied to draw 1-1 with Australia and Stuart Holden ended the United States' three-game scoring drought with a goal in the 47th minute as the Americans beat Japan 1-0 at Tianjin.

Midfielder George Mandjeck scored nine minutes before full time as Cameroon rallied for a 1-1 draw against South Korea in Group D. Cameroon defender Paul Bebey found the net first in the 68th at Qinhuangdao with a low, spinning shot in a physical game.

Argentina lineup

Messi was included in the Argentina lineup before his Spanish club even gave the 21-year-old permission to play. The attacking winger opened for 2004 champions in the 43rd minute before Sekou Cisse equalised with a powerful header in the 52nd.

But Messi's shot led to a winner in the 85th, Lautaro Acosta turning the ball home after the Barcelona star's shot had been blocked by the goalkeeper.

"Messi had a fantastic game just like every other player," coach Sergio Batista said. "He has fantastic pace and he had prepared himself for this game very well along with his teammates and, after a lot of effort, he finally adapted to the (hot) weather so all our efforts in him have paid off."

Hernanes scored in the 79th minute to put Brazil top of Group C although coach Dunga admitted his lineup had difficulties getting past Belgium's defensive scheme.

Ronaldinho, Diego, Alexandre Pato and the rest of Brazilian stars were kept in check by the Belgians during most of the match until defender Vincent Kompany was ejected in the 72nd after receiving a second yellow card.

Bolstered by Liverpool forward Ryan Babel and veteran senior national team striker Roy Makaay, the Dutch were picked in many pre-Olympic predictions to challenge Argentina and Brazil for the title.

Several quality chances

But the Nigerians created several quality chances only to lack a final touch. The Dutch created the better chances early, most dramatically when veteran Roy Makaay side-volleyed a shot off the crossbar in the ninth minute despite the linesman raising his offside flag.

The Netherlands finished the match with 10 men after Evander Sno was ejected for a 91st-minute foul on Emmanuel Ekpo, who had entered the match only two minutes earlier.