Brazil's Ronaldinho (right) and Argentina's Lionel Messi embrace after Argentina won 3-0 in their men's semi-final yesterday in Beijing. - AP

BEIJING (AP):

SERGIO AGUERO scored two second-half goals in seven minutes yesterday and later set up another to lead Argentina to a 3-0 win over rivals Brazil and into their second straight Olympic final.

Aguero opened the scoring for the defending champions by chesting in a left-side cross in the 52nd minute, then scored again from two metres on a cross from the right in the 58th. Aguero also set up a 76th-minute penalty kick that was converted by Juan Roman Riquelme.

It was the first victory for Argentina against Brazil in three years. They hadn't beaten Brazil since a 3-1 victory in a World Cup qualifier in June 2005.

"It's not a score you see every day when Brazil and Argentina play," Argentina coach Sergio Batista said. "Argentina had a great match with intelligence and personality."

Celebrations

The Argentine players huddled near midfield after the match and chanted to celebrate. The Argentines also did some celebrating inside the team's bus as it was ready to leave the stadium, jumping around and singing together.

Argentina, trying to become the first nation to win consecutive titles in 40 years, will now face Nigeria in a rematch of the 1996 final in Atlanta when the Africans won 3-2 for their first and only title.

Brazil will have to wait at least another four years to try to win their first Olympic gold medal. It is the only significant title the five-time world champions have never won.

In the other semi-final, Nigeria beat Belgium 4-1 in Shanghai after Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi scored two goals and Olubayo Adefemi and Chibuzor Okonkwo added one each for the 1996 Olympic champions.