By Victor Kanayo
Spain on Friday night dug out a difficult 5-3 victory against host France in the men’s football event final at the ongoing Olympic Games final in Paris, France.
The hard-earned win which came in the extra time after regulation time ended 3-3, ensured Spain got the men’s Olympic football tournament Gold.
With the victory, Santi Denia’s team have emulated Spain’s 1992 heroes, who won gold on home soil at the Barcelona Games.
The Grilling Encounter
Details of the encounter captured by FIFA.com shows that Thierry Henry’s side fought back from 3-1 down to send the game to extra-time, but Spain substitute Sergio Camello struck twice to clinch a memorable triumph for La Roja.
France got off to a dream start and hit the front on 11 minutes. Enzo Millot made a good connection with his shot, but Spain goalkeeper Arnau Tenas appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball, only succeeding in parrying it into the net.
Spain responded quickly, and their equaliser came via a predictable source. Alex Baena played in Fermin Lopez, who swept a fine first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Lopez soon had his and Spain’s second. Abel Ruiz’s close-range effort was saved by Guillaume Restes, but the Barcelona star was on the rebound in a flash to slot home his sixth goal of the tournament. Spain were rampant at this stage and they made it 3-1 when Baena curled home a magnificent free-kick.
After initially looking shellshocked, France gradually regained a foothold in the game, and they came close to reducing the deficit on the stroke of half-time. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header appeared to be looping into the net, but Tenas tipped the ball over the bar.
Les Bleus upped the ante after the break and, after Loic Bade shot off target, Manu Kone’s header rattled the crossbar. The all-action Kone then forced a stunning one-handed save from Tenas, before Millot blazed over from a tight angle.
France’s relentless pressure was eventually rewarded when Maghnes Akliouche diverted Michael Olise’s free-kick into the net. France were now within striking distance, and Mateta levelled from the spot in stoppage time after Arnaud Kalimuendo was upended in the area.
There was still time for Spain’s Benat Turrientes to hit the bar with a rasping drive before the game entered extra-time.
La Roja, however, would have the last word. Camello’s ice-cold 100th-minute finish put them ahead and he struck again in the dying moments, rifling home after latching on to a wonderful long pass from goalkeeper Tenas.
