Beijing - Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game Saturday as Argentina beat Nigeria to defend their Olympic football title.
Playing in sweltering conditions before a near-capacity 89,000 crowd in Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium, Di Maria scored in the 58th minute off a defence-splitting pass from Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
The Benfica surged at the Nigerian goal and coolly lobbed the ball over advancing goalkeeper goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin.
The South Americans just about deserved their second Olympic title in succession as Sergio Batista's side produced the better chances and in Messi also had a player capable of turning the game.
Earlier, Sabine Spitz of Germany was a class of her own on Saturday as she captured Olympic gold in the women's mountain bike competition.
Spitz, 36, cycled away from all rivals early on the 27-kilometre course and had enough time to carry her bike across the finish line in delight.
She added gold to her 2004 Olympic bronze medallist in 1 hour 45 minutes 11 seconds. Former two-time world champion Maja Wloszczowska of Poland got silver, and reigning world champion Irina Kalentyeva of Russia came from behind to salvage bronze.
A boxing scandal meanwhile emerged as International Boxing Association (AIBA) head Wu Ching-Kuo alleged that the man charged with referee selection procedures tried to influence bout officials.
The Xinhua state news agency quoted as Wu as saying the AIBA was "determined to clean the house" after the Games.
AIBA technical delegate Rodel Obreja of Romania had already said Friday at the boxing venue that AIBA officials tried to manipulate the assignment of referees and judges. He did not give details.
Obreja was suspended from his job by the AIBA because he had talked about an ongoing investigation and Wu said the Romanian was at the centre of an investigation himself. (dpa)
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