Australia has clinched the top spot in Group C at the Tokyo Olympics after a stunning 2-0 win over Argentina on Thursday at the Sapporo Dome.

Coach Graham Arnold had some encouraging words for his team before heading out, perhaps giving the Aussies a little extra fire.

“I said to the boys there’s a lot of families at home in lockdown, let’s put a smile on a lot of Australian faces and give them something they will remember,” he said in a post match interview.

The Aussie’s came out swinging in the first half, as 20-year-old Lachie Wales scored the opening goal in the 14th minute, catching out Argentina’s defence after Joel King’s curling low cross.

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Argentina dropped to a 10-man team after Francisco Ortega was dealt two yellow cards; one for a foul on Melbourne City’s Nathaniel Atkinson and the second came for pushing in the box as midfielder Denis Genreau lined up a free-kick.

Spirits were high for the men in green and gold and carried the momentum through to the second half.

The Argentinians struggled to improve their game play, despite the team’s greater possession of the ball.

Australia were able to take advantage of its rival’s missteps and used them to execute a tremendous display of football.

In a mere 30 seconds after being subbed on to the field, 19-year-old  Melbourne City forward Marco Tilio scored Australia’s second goal in the 80th minute.

The goal also comes as a historic win for Tilio, who has now been penned as the youngest men’s goal scorer for Australia at the Olympic Games.

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It may have been fate as both of Australia’s goalscorers had initially been set as reserves. Due to the strain the pandemic has put on players, Wales and Tilio were promoted into squad in last week’s expansion.

Arnold made sure his Olyroos were not intimidated by the Copa America champions and instead made sure they kept focused on their own goals.

“Sometimes when you mention the name of a nation like Argentina everyone starts thinking of Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and them being Copa America champions….But it was more about focusing on ourselves for the last week and making sure that all their players knew their roles and jobs. We had to have the belief that we could win the game,” he said.

The Olyroos currently sit atop the Group C standings with their victory, along with the help of Spain and Egypt’s 0-0 draw.