BEIJING (AP) - Moussa Dembele scored two of Belgium's three goals after they were reduced to 10 men, giving his country a 3-2 victory over Italy on Saturday and moving them within one win of their first Olympic soccer medal since it won gold at home in 1920.
Dembele's winner in the 80th minute was far less controversial than his first.
With Belgium trailing 1-0, Dembele headed in a corner kick from Tom de Mul in the 24th that Luca Cigarini - standing beside the right post - appeared to clear off the line with his right foot. Referee Hector Baldassi immediately signaled the goal despite Italian protests.
'I did not see it,' Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi said through a translator. 'Even on TV, I did not see it. This is not an important matter now.'
Dembele put Belgium ahead for good with a left-footed shot from the top of the area. Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano was sent off after the goal for tussling with a Belgium player, forcing coach Pierluigi Casiraghi to bring on reserve goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.
'Every player on my team is important,' Belgian coach Jean Francois de Sart said. 'But you need players who can make a difference. Today, Moussa Dembele made the difference.'
Dembele's goals came after Thomas Vermalen was removed in the 17th minute for running over Robert Acquafresca, a foul that led to the first of two penalties goals by Giuseppe Rossi and an early Italian lead.
'My players were fantastic today,' de Sart said. 'In the first half we were 10 on 11 and still we were the best team on the pitch. Every time our efforts were dangerous.
'We received two penalties and after that we find energy to attack. So I have only one word for my players: fantastic.'
Rossi, who has a tournament-leading four goals, converted his first penalty with a left-footed, stutter-step shot past Belgium goalkeeper Logan Bailly. He then tied the game at 2-2 in the 76th minute after Seep de Roover pulled down Paolo de Ceglie just inside the box.
Kevin Mirallas gave Belgium the lead two minutes into first-half injury time, trapping a long ball from De Roover out of the back, then turning and beating defender Salvatore Bocchetti and making a left-footed shot from 12 meters that easily beat Viviano.
The Italians pressed for a goal from the opening of the second half, and Rossi had one disallowed due to Acquafresca being offside in the 53rd.
Four minutes later, Rossi was issued a yellow card for diving in which TV replays clearly showed Bailly grabbing his ankles and pulling him down.Playing in its first Olympics since 1928, Belgium next plays Tuesday in Shanghai.
taly, the bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Games, had been playing in its seventh straight and 15th overall Olympics, more than any other nation.
'We were not brilliant, as usual,' Casiraghi said. 'Dembele put is in a difficult situation.
'The situations were different on all three goals. The first was an act where our player stopped the ball. The second goal the team relaxed. All three goals were not just from problems in the defense, but the midfield as well. These situations can happen.'
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