SHANGHAI, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions Argentina and the Netherlands were equal at 1-1 after a high-tempo first half at the Olympic men's soccer quarterfinals here on Saturday.

    Superstar Lionel Messi scored an amazing solo goal in the 14th minute, when the Barcelona prodigy intercepted a pass from a Dutch defender and burst past from the middle of two central backs before rounding the advancing keeper Kenneth Vermeer and drove home from small angle.

    After the high-tempo first twenty minutes which was dominated by the Argentines, the lowlanders restored with fierce tackles and physical battles to reverse the passive situation.

    Forward Otman Bakkal levelled the score on 34 minutes after a deflected freekick by Evander Sno from the edge of the box left him facing a helpless Oscar Ustari.