World Football

Storm halts Argentina warm-up in Japan

15:04 BST, Tue 29 Jul 2008
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Argentina's Angel Di Maria (R) celebrates with Ezequiel Lavezzi after scoring against Japan during the U-23 international friendly soccer match in Tokyo July 29, 2008. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao (JAPAN)

TOKYO, July 29 (Reuters) - A flash storm halted an Olympic warm-up game between gold medal favourites Argentina and Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Defending Olympic champions Argentina were leading 1-0 through an Angel Di Maria goal when thunder and lightning forced the abandonment of the game after 83 minutes.

Argentine captain Juan Roman Riquelme hit the post with a free kick in the first half before Benfica striker Di Maria fired the South Americans ahead in the 68th minute.

Argentina, who won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, face Ivory Coast, Serbia and Australia in Group A at next month's Beijing Games.

The Japanese have been drawn alongside Netherlands, Nigeria and United States in Group B.

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