Argentina defeated nine-man Paraguay 1-0 in the final of the men's soccer tournament on Saturday to take their first Olympic gold medal in 52 years.

Carlos Teves, from Boca Juniors, scored his eighth goal in the Olympics at the 18th minute for the win in the ill-tempered South American game.

Paraguay had Emilio Martinez sent off in the 66th minute for elbowing Andres D'Alessandro in the face and Diego Figueredo was dismissed for a second bookable offence seven minutes from time.

Argentina, runners-up to Nigeria in Atlanta eight years ago, had not won an Olympic gold in any sport since a rowing title at the 1952 Helsinki Games.

The Paraguay side did make a few counter attacks in the first half, but their forward were tightly marked once they drove the ball to the Argentinean half, making their few shooting attempts uncomfortable.

The 1.68-meter tall Boca Junior Tevez, who seemed always ready to score, attracted quite a lot attention from the Paraguayan side.

In the 59th minute, the Argentina had another excellent chance when Cesar Delgado muscled a header to the goal, and Luis Gonzalez dashed up to tap it in the right direction, but was confiscated by the goalie.

The Paraguay side became a 10-men team in the 66th minute when Emilio Martinez was red-carded for elbowing D'Alessandro.

Paraguay was reduced to even nine men when Figueredo received a march order for a second yellow card in the 83rd minute.