Hosts France, Spain to meet in Olympics football final

LYON, France (AP):

Thierry Henry stood with his arms outstretched, facing the jubilant crowd and soaking up the atmosphere.

The final of the men’s football tournament at the Paris Olympics was in sight after France had been pushed to the limit by Egypt in yesterday’s semifinal at Stade de Lyon.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, meanwhile, was being mobbed by his teammates after scoring his second goal in a 3-1 win that sets up a final against Spain at Parc des Princes on Friday.

“It was like, I don’t know how to say – it was incredible,” Mateta said.

France versus Spain means there will be a European gold medallist at the Olympics for the first time in 32 years.

The host nation’s place in the final looked in serious doubt as Egypt were closing in on an upset after leading through Mahmoud Saber’s 62nd-minute goal.

France had hit the frame of the goal on three occasions before Mateta equalised in the 83rd and sent the game into extra time.

His second came in the 99th and Michael Olise added France’s third in the 108th.

“It’s not easy, right? We knew that. But at the end of the day, we kept on coming. We kept on trying. We kept on creating from the wing and trying to play and we got our reward,” France coach Henry said.

While this ensures gold for a European team for the first time since Spain’s victory at Barcelona 1992, it also ends the dominance of Latin American nations after the last five editions of the tournament saw victories for Brazil and Argentina – two each – and Mexico.

It also gives Henry the chance to added to his storied career, having won the World Cup and European Championship with France as a player.

This would be his first major honour in a coaching career that is still early in its development.

“I’m not there yet. We have the medal, that’s for sure. Let’s not talk about the gold,” he said.

France’s only Olympic gold came at Los Angeles 1984 and they also took silver when the Games were held in Paris in 1900.

In Marseille Juanlu Sanchez came off the bench to fire Spain to a record-equalling fifth Olympic men’s football final.

Sanchez struck in the 85th minute at Stade de Marseille to seal a 2-1 win over Morocco.

Morocco led 1-0 at halftime after the tournament’s leading scorer, Soufiane Rahimi, converted a penalty in the 37th.

Spain evened the score in the 65th when Fermin Lopez showed quick feet in the box and hit a left-footed shot low in the bottom corner. The Barcelona midfielder then provided the assist that set up Sanchez to sweep his winning goal into the far corner.