Americans Richards, Jones blow leads on track

Men’s soccer

The final is set: Argentina vs. Nigeria.

Argentina is headed back to the Olympic final with the chance to become the first nation in 40 years to defend its title — and to avenge a loss to Nigeria in the 1996 finals.

Sergio Aguero scored goals six minutes apart in the second half and later set up another to lead Argentina past Brazil 3-0. Nigeria advanced with a 4-1 victory over Belgium that included two scores from long distances.

Weightlifting

Germany’s Matthias Steiner won the men’s super heavyweight division, getting gold and the right to call himself the world’s strongest man.

At the medal ceremony, Steiner held up a picture of his wife, Susann, who died in a car accident last year.

“I thought of her before the competition,” he said. “I won this for her, for friends and family. But mostly for her.”

Steiner lifted a total of 461 kilograms (1,016.3 pounds), clinching the win with a clean and jerk of 258 kg (568.8 pounds).

Cycling

This wasn’t Olympic cycling. It was the British Open.

With Victoria Pendleton winning the women’s track sprint and Chris Hoy taking the men’s version, the Brits won seven events and 12 medals in cycling, with Hoy claiming three golds.

They were favored to also win the men’s madison, but Argentina took it.

The Americans? Not a single medal in the five-day competition. Just like in Athens. It ended with Michael Friedman and Bobby Lea 16th in the Madison, and Jennie Reed seventh in the women’s sprint 5th-8th placement race.

Wrestling

American Mike Zadick worked so hard to get to the Olympics. Was it worth it? He wrestled for less than 10 minutes over two matches and didn’t score in either one.

“This is an opportunity I’ve wanted since I started wrestling at 5, 25 years ago, and it’s pretty sour to have on me,” he said. “It happened so quick, it’s just kind of a shock to me, and it’s something I’ll deal with.”

He competed in the 60-kilogram freestyle division, which was won by Russia’s Mavlet Batirov. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Alexander Karelin was in Batirov’s corner during the match.

Women’s volleyball

After a slow start, the U.S. took down Italy in five sets to advance to a semifinal matchup with undefeated Cuba.

Afterward, the team celebrated with abandon. Ogonna Nnamani was joined by her teammate in a dance. They chanted “U-U-U-U-U-S-A!” And, of course, there were hugs all around.

Brazil plays defending champion China in the other semifinal on Thursday.

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