The Summer of Spain continues as Spain claims the gold medal in men’s soccer, just weeks after the senior Spanish team won the UEFA European Championship.
In a wild final match, Spain earned gold despite a French comeback that forced extra time. Although France — and the raucous French home crowd — threatened to spoil Spain’s win, the Spanish were able to add two more in extra time to win 5-3.
France took the early lead, but Spain scored three goals in ten minutes to take the 3-1 lead in the first half. But France didn’t stop fighting, and scored in the 79th minute to get within one.
Les Bleus had a stroke of luck in the third minute of stoppage time, as a foul in the box led to a penalty kick. French captain Jean-Philippe Mateta took the kick and buried it to tie things up at 3-all and force extra time.
During the first period of extra time, Spain’s Sergio Camello scored in the 100th minute to take the lead again. France was searching for the equalizer up to the last moments, but a Camello goal in extra time’s stoppage time sealed the deal for Spain, and silenced the home crowd.
Source Agencies
