Spain Clinch Olympic Gold in Thrilling Final Against France
Paris, France – In a breathtaking Olympic final that will be remembered for years to come, Spain emerged victorious over hosts France, claiming the gold medal with a dramatic 5-3 extra-time win.
A pulsating encounter at the Parc des Princes saw both teams trade blows relentlessly. France opened the scoring through Enzo Millot, but Spain responded with a quickfire double from Fermin Lopez and a stunning free-kick by Alex Baena to take a commanding lead.
However, Maghnes Akliouche teed up a grandstand finish at the Parc des Princes, and then Benat Turrientes’ foul allowed Jean-Phillipe Mateta to force extra time with a 93rd-minute penalty.
Both teams threw caution to the wind in the additional period, but Camello was the hero, producing a wonderful lob and a breakaway second to secure gold for Spain.
The hosts took the lead with the very first attempt of the game as Millot pounced on a loose clearance to fire goalwards from the right side of the area. Spain goalkeeper Arnau Tenas seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball, palming it into the bottom-left corner.
However, Spain soon hit back through Barcelona youngster Fermin Lopez, who swept his finish into the bottom-left corner after being found in the middle of the area by Baena.
Buoyed by that strike, Spain built a two-goal lead within 10 further minutes. Lopez pounced for his second when Guillaume Restes could only parry Abel Ruiz’s shot to put them 2-1 up, then Baena added the pick of the goals.
Lining up a free-kick just to the left of the D, the Villarreal man gave Restes no chance by whipping a sensational effort over the wall and into the top-left corner.
Manu Kone missed a great chance to cut Spain’s lead when he nodded against the crossbar after the break, but Les Bleus’ hopes were rekindled with 11 minutes to play as Michael Olise’s free-kick was steered into the far corner by Akliouche.
There was more drama in stoppage time, with Turrientes clumsily dragging Arnaud Kalimuendo down from a corner. Mateta kept his nerve from the spot to level, though Turrientes almost redeemed himself with a dream winner when his shot clipped the crossbar at the other end.
France continued to press in extra time, but they were caught out in the 100th minute as Camello latched onto Adrian Bernabe’s pass before sitting Restes down with a delicate chipped finish.
Camello was not done there, latching onto a long throw from Tenas as France threw players forward in stoppage time, before making sure of the gold by finishing past Restes.
Source: Fotmob
