Spain Advances to Olympics Final with 2-1 Victory Over Morocco
Marseille, France (WE) – Spain secured its place in the Olympic men’s soccer final with a dramatic 2-1 win over Morocco at Stade de Marseille on Monday, August 5, 2024. This victory marks Spain’s fifth appearance in an Olympic final, equaling the record.
Morocco, with Soufiane Rahimi leading the charge, took the lead in the 37th minute with a penalty goal, putting them ahead 1-0 at halftime. Rahimi, the tournament’s top scorer, calmly converted from the spot to add to his tally of six goals.
RaHIMi. 🙌🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/Uge9fl5bKD
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) August 5, 2024
Spain responded strongly in the second half. Fermin Lopez equalized in the 65th minute with a precise left-footed shot that found the bottom corner. Lopez, who had already scored four goals in the tournament, then turned provider, setting up Juanlu Sanchez for the decisive goal in the 85th minute. Sanchez, coming off the bench, swept the ball into the far corner to seal Spain’s victory.
![Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates his team’s third goal against the USA at the Parc des Princes in Paris [Aurelien Morissard/AP].](https://theworldseye.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AP24215530952144-1722612546-220x150.jpg)
The win sets up a final showdown for Spain against either France or Egypt. The Spanish team, which won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and finished as runners-up to Brazil in Tokyo three years ago, aims to add to its storied Olympic legacy.
For Morocco, the defeat marks another heartbreaking semifinal exit in a major tournament. Having previously made history as the first Arab and African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022, Morocco will now compete in the bronze medal match, hoping to better their previous achievements.
Spain, buoyed by recent success after the senior men’s team’s European Championship win last month, will look to capitalize on this momentum in the final. The match was played in front of a passionate crowd, predominantly Moroccan supporters, who saw their team come close to a late winner before Sanchez’s decisive strike.
Spain are #Paris2024 finalists! 👏🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/7IzrHQoi5g
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) August 5, 2024
The loss was particularly tough for Morocco, which had already caused an upset by defeating Argentina in the group stage. Spain’s victory and their progression to the final not only highlight their continued excellence in Olympic soccer but also set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
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