Argentina Reaches Final, 3-0

The Argentina men’s soccer team routed Italy, 3-0, Tuesday and will play for its first Olympic gold medal.

Budding star Carlos Tevez scored his seventh goal in five matches to give Argentina the lead in the 16th minute. Luis Gonzalez scored in the 69th minute and second-half substitute Mariano Gonzalez put the game out of reach six minutes from the end.

The South Americans, who have outscored the opposition, 16-0, in five matches, forced the play from start to finish, while the Italians resorted to defensive tactics and occasional counterattacks.

Argentina will play Paraguay, a 3-1 winner over Iraq, for the gold Saturday morning at the main Olympic Stadium. Italy meets Iraq in the bronze-medal match Friday.