After trailing 3-1 to Spain in the final match of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, France was able to overcome adversity and managed to equalize the game after a penalty kick goal by Jean-Phillipe Mateta, following the referee’s recourse to the VAR.
In the 90th minute of the game, after a French corner kick, Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti awarded a penalty kick to the home team, after observing the play on the VAR and seeing a grab inside the Spanish area.
France started the match winning after an early goal by Enzo Millot but the happiness was short-lived, as 6 minutes later Fermin Lopez tied the match. After 7 minutes, Barcelona striker Lopez scored again to put his team up 2-1.
In the 27th minute, Alex Baena extended the lead with a free kick goal to put Spain up 3-1. But just when things looked difficult for France, Les Bleus managed to wake up in time and in the 78th minute Maghnes Akliouche cut the deficit to make it 3-2. Jean-Phillipe Mateta finally tied the match with a penalty kick in the last minute of regulation time.
Spain win the gold medal at Paris 2024 Olympic Games
After a fascinating match that France managed to tie 3-3 in the last minute with a penalty kick goal by Jean-Phillipe Mateta, the match went into overtime to decide who would win the gold medal and who would get the silver.
After 9 minutes into the first overtime, Sergio Camello would score to put Spain ahead 4-3 and bring them closer to their second gold medal. Finally, the same Rayo Vallecano player would give Spain the last goal to win the match 5-3.
see also
How many medals are awarded at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
In this way, Spain won the second gold medal in soccer in their history, after having won the first one in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
