By In a pulsating Olympic men’s soccer semifinal at the Stade de Marseille, Spain clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Morocco, securing their place in a record-equaling fifth final. The dramatic win, sealed by substitute Juanlu Sanchez’s 85th-minute goal, sets the stage for Spain to pursue gold against either France or Egypt in the Paris Games final.
The match unfolded as a tale of two halves, with Morocco taking the lead through tournament top scorer Soufiane Rahimi’s penalty in the 37th minute. The Moroccan team, buoyed by a passionate crowd largely comprised of their supporters, seemed poised to continue their impressive run in the tournament, having already upset Argentina in the group stage.
Spain, however, demonstrated their resilience and championship pedigree in the second half. Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez leveled the score in the 65th minute with a display of quick footwork and precision, slotting a left-footed shot into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the tournament. Lopez’s exuberant celebration, which resulted in a yellow card for breaking the corner flag, underscored the intensity of the moment.
The Spanish team’s persistence paid off in the closing stages when Lopez turned provider, setting up Sanchez for the winning goal. The substitute’s clinical finish into the far corner crushed Morocco’s hopes of reaching their first Olympic soccer final and extended Spain’s remarkable run in international competitions.
This victory continues Spain’s stellar year in soccer, following the senior team’s triumph in the European Championship last month. For the Spanish Olympic team, it presents an opportunity to improve on their silver medal performance from the Tokyo Games three years ago, where they fell to Brazil in the final.
Morocco’s defeat marks another heartbreaking semifinal exit in a major tournament, reminiscent of their fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup. Despite the loss, the North African side’s impressive Olympic campaign, which saw them become the first Arab and African nation to reach this stage, has further cemented their status as a rising force in international soccer.
As Spain looks ahead to the gold medal match, they carry the weight of history and expectation. With one Olympic gold from the 1992 Barcelona Games and three silver medals to their name, the team is poised to add another glorious chapter to their soccer legacy.
The Spanish success story at these Olympics extends beyond the men’s team, with the women’s squad also reaching the semifinals. They are set to face Brazil in Marseille, highlighting Spain’s dominance across both men’s and women’s soccer on the international stage.
As the Paris Olympics soccer tournament reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Spain as they aim to cap off an extraordinary year with Olympic gold, further solidifying their status as a powerhouse in global soccer.
AP
