PARIS– Sergio Camello scored twice in extra time as Spain won gold in the men’s Olympic football final after beating France 5-3 on Friday.
The thrilling victory at the Parc des Princes crowned a golden summer for Spanish football – following the senior national team’s triumph at the European Championships last month.
Spain, which lost the final to Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, became the first European gold medal winners in men’s football since its last tournament victory in 1992 at the Barcelona Games.
France overcame a 3-1 deficit and sent the game into extra time when Jean-Phillipe Mateta equalised from the penalty spot in the third minute of stoppage time.
But substitute Camello calmly lifted the ball over French goalkeeper Guillaume Restes in the 100th minute and scored his second goal in the first minute of injury time.
Spain’s victory was a personal double victory for Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena, who were both part of the winning team at the 2024 European Championship.
Barcelona star Lopez scored twice and Baena scored Spain’s other goal during a blistering 10-minute period in the first half, giving the Spaniards a 3-1 lead at half-time after Enzo Millot had opened the scoring for France.
But the game was turned on its head when France got back on its feet, scoring goals through Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta to convert a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time and send the game into extra time.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
