The Spainish football team came from behind with three goals in 10 first-half minutes then survived a late France fightback and extra time to seal their summer of international glory with an Olympic gold.
After the men’s senior team lifted the European Championships in July, their U-23 side suggested another generation of winners is ready to follow with their own victory in a dramatic final at Parc des Princes. It was the highest-scoring men’s soccer gold medal match since 1912.
Barcelona star Fermin Lopez grabbed a brace and then Villarreal’s Alex Baena scored a fine free-kick in their lightning-quick response to trailing through Enzo Millot’s 10th-minute opener for Thierry Henry’s previously unbeaten outfit.
France had shown their own ability to battle through adversity in their semi-final, overcoming Egypt after the shock of conceding first, and they did it again on Friday evening despite being thwarted several times by Spain’s goalkeeper Arnau Tenas, who plays club football in Paris for PSG.
Tenas could not stop Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty in added time, though, which made it 3-3, after sub Maghnes Akliouche had been held in the area. The Monaco midfielder had already pulled a goal back for Les Bleus, and when a VAR review showed Spain’s Benat Turrientes had fouled him, Mateta drilled in the spot-kick and the drama of extra time ensued.
Santi Denia’s team showed their own resilience though by re-taking the lead in the first half of that nail-biting extra time, through another substitute Sergio Camello. Rayo Vallecano’s Camello put a last flourish on the scoreline to make it 5-3 for Spain at the very last gasp, latching onto a long and accurate throw from goalkeeper Tenas.
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