Spain did what seemed impossible and got into the semifinals of the Olympic Games after defeating Ivory Coast in a match that they had lost in the 92nd minute. Luis de la Fuente’s men they forced the extension in 93 ‘ with a goal from Rafa Mir and there they ended up crushing the African team. Mir was the undisputed hero, scoring two more goals in overtime. Now, the Olympic team will see them in ‘semis’ with Japan, which eliminated New Zealand on penalties.
Spain
Ivory Coast
Spain
Unai Simón, Mingueza (Vallejo, 9 ‘), Eric Garcia, Pau Torres, Miranda (Cucurella 105’), Zubimendi (Moncayola 105 ‘), Pedri (Carlos Soler 103’), Merino (Rafa Mir 91 ‘), Asensio (Bryan Gil 68 ‘), Oyarzabal and Olmo.
Ivory Coast
Tape, Singo, Bailly, Dabila, Diallo, Timite (Amad Diallo 63 ‘), Kouassi (Kouao 114’), Kessié, Kouame (Keita 90 ‘), Gradel and Dao.
Goals
0-1, Bailly min 10; 1-1, Elm, min. 30, 1-2 Gradel min.92, 2-2 Rafa Mir, min.94, 3-2, Oyzarzabal min.98, 4-2, Rafa Mir min.118 and 5-2, Rafa Mir min.121.
Referee
Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela): Admonished Olmo (70 ‘), Dabila (74’), Eric Garcia (78 ‘) and Carlos Soler (114’).
Incidents
Quarterfinal match of the Tokyo Olympic Games, played at the Myagi Stadium
It is often said that in heads or tails matches little happens in the early stages. However, the crash started as a ‘Big Bang’. The 10th minute had not been reached and the events had already rushed. In the blink of an eye, Mikel Merino and Kouassi posted the first warning. The first finished high and the second met with a great save from Unai Simón, who sent for a corner. Before the corner kick was served, Mingueza relapsed from his injury and had to be replaced by Vallejo.
The first thing the Real Madrid defender saw – granted to Granada – was to Eric Bailly sending the ball to the bottom of the tights. Again from set pieces, as happened against Argentina, Spain lacked solidity.
The goal left Luis de la Fuente’s men dislodged, who took several minutes to react. In that time, it was even 0-2 after a very dangerous cross from Gradel from the left side.
ELM CRAFTS TO TIE
With the waters back on course, Spain began little by little to control the game. From the ‘Red’ bench, they asked for a rhythm of movement to wear down the African team, well placed and making multiple defensive aids. Unable until that moment to generate dangerous situations, Spain encountered the cunning of Dani Olmo. Singo wanted to leave with his chest for Tape but the Leipzig player, very quickly, got in the way and put the toe of the boot before the goalkeeper blocked.
Far from lowering their arms at 1-1, the Ivory Coast returned to the charge with a shot from Dao at the half-turn that forced Unai to use himself thoroughly. And in the last action before the break, the VAR annulled for offside what would have been Oyarzabal’s 2-1 after a precise cross from Miranda.
The resumption started with a very clear opportunity for Olmo, but the Catalan sent to the clouds. Shortly after, a serious error by the Africans in the exit of the ball caused a whip to the crosshead of Mikel Merino. From there the clash entered a phase of inaccuracies and interruptions, with Spain carrying the weight of the match but the Ivory Coast threatening rapid transitions.
FINAL MADNESS: RAFA MIR WORKED THE MIRACLE
Lacking fluidity in the game, Miranda tried it with a daring free-kick that was close to becoming the goal of the tournament. In the final minutes, the fear of making mistakes took hold of the players. And nothing suggested what was about to happen. In the 87th minute, Oyarzabal forgave a heads-up against Tape after a great filtered pass from Olmo. Already in 90 ‘, a shot by Gradel that touched Eric Garcia’s studs threw Unai off the track and became 1-2. Spain was out. The ‘Red’ players could not believe it.
Desperately, De la Fuente brought in Rafa Mir, who worked the miracle in less than a minute – five had been added. The Murcian striker took advantage of the African defense’s lack of understanding with their goalkeeper to score an epic draw at the turn. Without detracting from Mir, the Ivory Coast gave away the victory when they already had it in their hands.
THE EXTENSION, HAPPY TERMINATION
In overtime, things quickly turned upside down. The VAR decreed a penalty at the hands of Bailly after a header by Pau Torres on a corner kick. Oyarzabal converted the penalty, putting Spain ahead on the scoreboard for the first time.
In a match already broken in the second part of extra time, a ride by Rafa Mir could have made it 4-2, but Tape did respond well this time. The sentence would come in 118 ‘, when the Wolves-owned forward resolved with little angle within the area., with practically no African players defending the play. There was still time so that, in 121, Oyarzabal assisted Mir so that he signed a hat-trick. The striker had entered in 92 and left the match with three goals.
Spain suffered what is not written but is already in the ‘semis’, where they will see them with the winner of Japan-New Zealand.