The Spanish national team advanced to the soccer semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In extra time, La Rojita won 5-3 over Ivory Coast thanks to Rafa Mir’s hat-trick.
In the quarter-final match which was held at the Miyagi stadium, Saturday (31/7/2021) afternoon WIB, Spain fielded Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, and Mikel Oyarzabal in front. Ivory Coast even surprised when they aggressively pressed Spain from the beginning and already threatened in the eighth minute.
Fortunately Unai Simon was able to parry Eboue Kouassi’s kick and produced a corner. From that corner kick, was born the Ivory Coast goal made by Eric Bailly. Bailly scores Max-Alain Gradel’s corner.
Eric Bailly scores the goal that puts Ivory Coast ahead Photo: AP/Andre Penner |
After falling behind, Spain immediately pushed back to find an equalizer. However, several times the efforts made by Olmo, Asensio and Oyarzabal were able to be broken by the Ivory Coast rearguard.
Spain can finally equalize the score in the 30th minute. Dani Olmo received a pass from Oyarzabal and fired hard into the corner of Elizier Ira’s goal.
 Dani Olmo equalized 1-1 for Spain Photo: AP/Andre Penner |
The goal made Spain more eager to attack the Ivory Coast defense and was able to score a second goal in the 43rd minute. This time it was Oyarzabal’s turn who broke into Ira’s goal with a shot in front of goal, continuing Juan Miranda’s pass.
However, the Spanish celebrations had to be postponed as VAR canceled out the goal. In the replay, Oyarzabal was first in an offside position when the ball was passed from Miranda.
After a 1-1 draw for 90 minutes, Spain still controlled the match in the second half. The best chance came in the 55th minute through Asensio who fired hard, but the ball hit the post,
Ivory Coast also had Christian Kouame’s chance in the 72nd minute, but Unai Simon could deny it. The match heated up in the last 10 minutes as both teams exchanged attacks.
Ivory Coast seemed to be going through when Max Gredel broke Unai Simon’s net in the 90th minute. Gredel stabbed in from the left and fired home, the ball hitting Jesus Vallejo’s feet before going through Unai Simon’s hand.
Spain instead made it 2-2 in the 93rd minute when Rafa Mir found a wild ball in front of the Ivory Coast goal, capitalizing on a defender’s failure to clear a cross.
 Rafa Mir drew the score at 2-2 Photo: AP/Andre Penner |
The match was finally settled through extra time of 2×15 minutes. In the 97th minute, Spain took the lead in the game for the first time when Eric Bailly touched with a corner ball. The referee looked at the VAR first before awarding a penalty which Oyarzabal executed well.
 Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty put Spain into a 3-2 lead Photo: Getty Images/Chef Nagahama |
The entry of Rafa Mir made Spain’s attack sharper and tried to add another goal in the remaining half of extra time. In the 111th minute, Rafa Mir got a through ball from Pau Torres and as soon as he entered the penalty box, the ball was shot but Ira saved it.
Oyarzabal tried to get the ball to throw up but it still flew far. Spain then took the lead to 4-2 in the 117th minute when Rafa Mir stabbed in from the right side of the Ivory Coast penalty box.
Overshadowed by Kessie, Rafa Miri was still able to shoot at the far post and the ball went in smoothly. Mir then completed a hat-trick in the final minutes of the match after leaking Oyarzabal’s cross from the right side in a counter-attack.
The Spanish national team advanced to the semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a 5-2 victory.
(mrp/krs)
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