U.S. Men Continue Winless Streak, 5-2

Jorge Lombi and Fernando Ferrara scored twice each in the first half to lift Argentina to a 5-2 victory over the winless U.S. men’s team.

The American team, outscored 9-2 in the 1996 games, fell to 0-21-4 in Olympic history. Argentina led, 5-0, before giving up two goals in the last 12 minutes.

The United States, which fell behind, 3-0, in the first half of its opener with Pakistan before losing, 4-0, saw its hopes of staying close dashed early again as Argentina (2-0) jumped ahead, 3-0, after only 14 minutes.

Marq Mellor of Mount Vernon, N.Y., gave the U.S. team its first goal of the Olympics in the 39th minute, and Steve Jennings of Bethesda, Md., made the score 5-2 in the 48th minute.

*

First it beats the defending gold medalist, then the bronze. Spain has emerged as the surprise of the men’s tournament. Javier Arnau scored twice to lead Spain (2-0) to a 3-0 victory over Pakistan (1-1), the third-place team from the 1992 Games. . . . A goal by winger Stefan Saliger with four minutes to play saved Germany from a second successive defeat as it snatched a 1-1 draw against India (0-1-1).

*

Favorites Australia (2-0) went to the top of the women’s standings by thrashing Argentina, 7-1. With two games played in the eight-team competition, Australia led undefeated Germany on goal difference.

Argentina, the World Cup runner-up, dropped to 0-2.