France Beat Egypt To Set Up Olympic Men’s Football Final Against Spain
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice and Michael Olise added a third as France came from behind to beat Egypt 3-1 after extra time on Monday and set up an Olympic men’s football final showdown with Spain.
Thierry Henry’s France looked to be heading for defeat in the semifinal in Lyon after Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead just after the hour mark.
But Mateta, the Crystal Palace striker, levelled from Olise’s assist with seven minutes of the 90 remaining.
Egypt were reduced to 10 men at the start of extra time when centre-back Omar Fayed was sent off, and the hosts made their numerical superiority count as Mateta headed in.
Olise then sealed the win on 108 minutes and France, looking for their second Olympic men’s football gold medal and first since 1984, now face Spain in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday.
Spain, gold medallists in 1992 and silver medallists three years ago in Tokyo, qualified earlier on Monday after coming from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in Marseille.
Egypt and Morocco will meet in Nantes on Thursday in an all-North African play-off for bronze.
