In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Spain has secured a spot in the men’s football final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Morocco in the semifinals. The match, held at the Marseille stadium on Monday, August 5th, saw Spain come from behind to dash Morocco’s hopes of reaching their first-ever Olympic final.Morocco, riding high after their impressive 4-0 quarterfinal win against the United States, initially took the lead through a penalty kick by Soufiane Rahimi in the 37th minute. However, Spain, showcasing their resilience and determination, mounted a comeback in the second half.Fermín López equalized for Spain in the 66th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Juanlu Sánchez scored the winning goal for Spain, securing their place in the final.Spain’s coach, expressing pride in the team’s achievement, stated, ‘It was a great day. The players showed a lot of heart and determination. We’re proud of them’. This victory marks Spain’s fourth Olympic final appearance and their second consecutive one, following their silver medal performance in Tokyo 2020.Despite the loss, Morocco’s impressive Olympic journey continues. They will now compete for the bronze medal against the loser of the France-Egypt semifinal on Thursday, August 8th, in Nantes. This represents a historic opportunity for Morocco to secure their first-ever Olympic medal in football.The gold medal match is scheduled for Friday, August 9th, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, where Spain will face either France or Egypt. As they pursue their second Olympic gold medal in football, following their triumph in Barcelona 1992, Spain aims to add to their recent success after winning the European Championship in July.
Key points
- Spain defeated Morocco 2-1 in the Olympic football semifinals, advancing to the final.
- Morocco took an early lead, but Spain mounted a comeback with goals from Fermín López and Juanlu Sánchez.
- Spain will face either France or Egypt in the final, while Morocco will compete for the bronze medal.
- This marks Spain’s fourth Olympic final appearance and a chance for their second gold medal in football.
Contradictions👾There is a minor discrepancy in the reported time of Juanlu Sánchez’s winning goal, with some sources stating it occurred in the 85th minute, while others report it as the 86th minute.
