By Samuel A. August 5, 2024
Spain reached their second successive Olympic men’s football final when they beat Morocco 2-1 thanks to second half goals from Fermin Lopez and Juanlu Sanchez at Marseille Stadium on Monday afternoon. La Roja fought back after Morocco went ahead to earn the chance to improve on their silver medal at the Tokyo Games last time out where they were second to Brazil courtesy of Malcom’s extra time winning goal.
“It was an intense, tough, complicated, physical match but the team has bounced back in the most difficult match we have had so far,” goalkeeper Arnau Tenas said post match.
In an extended first half following an injury to referee Ilgiz Tantashev, who had to be replaced, Morocco opened the scoring in the 37th minute when the tournament’s top scorer Soufiane Rahimi converted a penalty for his sixth Olympic goal following a Pablo Barrios foul. The 28 year old Al Ain striker has netted for Morocco in every match at the Games.
Spain were more dangerous after the break and equalised in the 66th minute when Barcelona’s Lopez pounced on some sloppy defending by Morocco to steal the ball in the box and strike home. “I hope I can score in every game. The most important thing is that we took a step forward and got the win,” 21-year-old midfielder Lopez said. “From halftime onwards we were ourselves and I think the team deserved the win for our effort.”
Substitute Sanchez earned the Spaniards the lead five minutes from time after a fine team move from the right and a low shot from a tight angle. “Morocco were pushing hard, they were backed by their fans, but at halftime it was clear to us that we couldn’t let this slip away from us,” Sanchez said.”Now it’s time to recover because we have a very nice game in few days”
Morocco came close to levelling in stoppage time but were denied and will play for the bronze medal in Nantes on Thursday.
