After helping his nation’s senior team to Copa America glory earlier in July, City’s striker was called up to Javier Mascherano’s squad as one of their three ‘overage’ players for the Games.
He then started at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for their Group B fixture where they thought they had fought back from two-goals down earn a point - thanks to Cristian Medina’s close-range header in the 16th minute of second-half stoppage time.
However, the match was suspended shortly after due to a pitch invasion and other crowd disturbances - with many thinking the full-time whistle had been blown.
Instead, the fixture resumed over an hour later behind closed doors before the officials ruled out Argentina’s equaliser after consulting VAR due to an offside in the build-up.
Morocco then held on for three vital points - meaning Argentina will be aiming collecting their first points at the 2024 Games against Iraq in their next fixture.
The match started at a breathless place with both nations creating half-chances in pursuit of the game’s opening goal.
Morocco’s Ilias Akhomach squandered the best of the early opportunities when he controlled well in the area before wildly lashing the ball wide from a promising position.
Soon after, former City defender Nicolas Otamendi directed a header just over the bar from the edge of the area following an accurate free-kick whipped into his direction.
With the match goalless as the first-half’s minutes ticked down, it looked likely the scoreline would remain level heading into the interval.
That was until Bilal El Khannouss slid an accurate ball into the path of Soufiane Rahimi who broke into the box before slotting home for the African nation in the 47th minute.
Tarik Sektioui’s side then carried their momentum into the second half when Akhomach weaved into the box and won a penalty after going down under Julio Soler’s challenge.
Rahimi stepped up and drove low into the net - grabbing his and Morocco’s second of the afternoon.
In a bid to change his side’s fortunes, Mascherano replaced Kevin Zenon with Guiliano Simeone.
And the substitution paid off when the latter reduced the deficit when ghosting towards the back post and slamming a pinpoint cross into the roof of the net from close range.
That sparked Argentina into life, and in their search of an equaliser, Alvarez came close when then ball was poked into his path before City’s striker’s effort was smothered by Munir.
Mascherano’s team produced a late onslaught on Morocco’s goal and it appeared they dramatically snatched a point from the jaws of defeat in the 15th minute of stoppage time.
Back-to-back efforts struck the crossbar before Medina nodded the rebound into the net from close range - sparking wild celebrations from players, supporters and staff.
However, due to a pitch invasion and other crowd disturbances the match was suspended and the action resumed over an hour later behind closed doors.
With the fixture back under way, the goal was ruled out for an offside in the build up - meaning Morocco collected three points.
Up next for Alvarez and Co. is a meeting with Iraq on Saturday 27 July at 15:00 (UK) at Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu.
