Brazil, Italy, and defending champions Argentina all booked their places in the quarterfinals of the Olympic football competition with their second wins in as many games today.

Brazil notched the tournament's biggest margin of victory thus far, thrashing New Zealand 5-0. Two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho led the way with a brace, with Alexandre Pato, Anderson, and Rafael Sobis completing the scoring. Elsewhere in Group C, Belgium defeating nine-man China 2-0 thanks to goals by Moussa Dembele and Kevin Mirallas, leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb in order to progress. China must beat Brazil and hope Belgium falls to New Zealand in the final round of matches in order to make the last eight.

Ronaldinho struck twice to lead Brazil to the next round

In Group D, Italy cruised to a 3-0 triumph over South Korea, thanks to goals from Giuseppe Rossi, Tommaso Rocchi, and Riccardo Montolivo. The result moved the Italians to sole leadership of the group with 6 points from two games, assuring them of passage to the next round.

Argentina were made to work harder by a game Australian team which held out resolutely until the 78th minute, before Ezequiel Lavezzi secured the points with a coolly dispatched volley following a flowing Argentine move.

Results - Day 2

Group A

Argentina 1 (Lavezzi 76), Australia 0

Serbia 2 (Mrdakovic 16, Rakic 90), Ivory Coast 4 (Cisse 3, Rakovic og 24, Kalou 70, Gervinho 90)

Group B

United States 2 (Kljestan 64, Altidore 72), Netherlands 2 (Babel 16, Sibon 90)

Nigeria 2 (Obinna 58, Anichebe 74), Japan 1 (Toyoda 79)

Group C

New Zealand 0, Brazil 5 (Anderson 3, Pato 33, Ronaldinho 55, pen 61, Sobis 90)

Belgium 2 (Dembele 8, Mirallas 80), China 0

Group D

Italy 3 (Rossi 15, Rocchi 32, Montolivo 90), South Korea 0

Cameroon 1 (M'Bia 74), Honduras 0