Paris 2024: France set up Olympic final with Spain as Thierry Henry's side beat Egypt
Updated 06/08/2024 at 00:12 GMT+1
Hosts France came from behind late on to beat Egypt and set up an Olympic final with Spain on Friday. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a brace and Michael Olise also netted as France needed extra-time to see off Egypt. Thierry Henry's side went behind in the first half, but came back brilliantly to win. Mateta has four goals in the tournament, as he continues his fine form.
ean-Philippe Mateta #14 of Team France celebrates victory after the Men's semifinal match between France and Egypt during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Lyon on August 05, 2024 in Lyon, France
Image credit: Getty Images
Jean-Philippe Mateta was at the double as France came from behind to beat Egypt and progress to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games men's football final on Friday, where they will face Spain at the Parc des Princes.
Despite being behind with 10 minutes to play, Mateta's magnificent brace meant the hosts avoided a shock defeat.
Michael Olise finished the game off in extra time, scoring France's third goal of the match to ensure they moved past Egypt. The ball fell to the Bayern Munich forward in the box after some great work from Desire Doue and he fired past Hamza Alaa to send the jubilant French crowd into celebration.
For Mateta's second, Olise's corner was headed back across goal by Kiliann Sildillia, before Mateta headed home for his fourth goal of the tournament.
Thierry Henry's side made life extremely difficult for themselves, missing chance after chance before Mateta equalised with his third goal in as many games.
The same combination of Mateta and Olise struck again as they did against Argentina, with Olise playing in the Crystal Palace striker, who made no mistake with the finish.
Mateta missed a glorious opportunity in the 64th minute, as Alaa made a heroic save from his close-range header. However, the France striker was not going to let up a second chance at goal.
Doue changed the game when he came on in the 76th minute, creating havoc down France's left-hand side.
- Hodgkinson dominates women’s 800m final to land first Olympic gold
- Lyles qualifies for 200m semis to continue bid for double sprint gold, Asher-Smith, Neita make final
- Record-breaking Team GB storm to stunning gold in women's team sprint
The hosts believed they should have been awarded a penalty in injury time of the second half for a handball by Omar Fayed, but after a lengthy VAR review, the referee decided that there would be no penalty.
Frustrations grew in the crowd, as the VAR check lasted three minutes, before eventually it was decided Loic Bade had fouled Fayed before a handball occured.
Fayed was sent off for a second yellow card just moments into extra time for a late foul on Doue. The Egyptian defender had received his first yellow card for complaining to the officials during the VAR check.
France dominated the game throughout, but failed to finish multiple chances before Egypt dealt them a sucker punch in the second half, with Mahmoud Saber putting the African side ahead with a sharp finish inside the box.
Egypt did not look to get forward on many occasions and created little chances of note, but Saber was extremely clinical and took his opportunity brilliantly.
This was the first goal that France had conceded all tournament, but it seemed to stun them into action.
Just before Egypt took the lead, France captain Alexandre Lacazette missed a brilliant chance. Lacazette was left unmarked inside the box, but could only put his volley wide of the post.
Bade struck the post at the end of the first half, with an excellent header from a corner. The defender also hit the woodwark in the second half, striking the crossbar with a close-range header after Lacazette had seen his header denied by a post.
Egypt defended brilliantly, whilst also riding their luck at times. Alaa made some excellent saves to almost see his side over the line.
Alaa was the villain in the eyes of the home French crowd, as he wasted time constantly throughout the second half to ensure the defenders in front of him managed to get a rest from the onslaught by the France attackers.
Egypt will face Morocco in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA (FRANCE)
The Crystal Palace striker struck a brace to ensure France would take their place in Friday's final against Spain.
Mateta equalised with an excellent finish after Olise had slipped him in behind.
The France striker then headered in the winner during extra time, scoring his fourth goal of the tournament.
Match Highlights
62' GOAL! FRANCE 0 EGYPT 1 (SABER): Saber sees his initial shot blocked, before smashing the ball into the back of the net with ferocious power.
It's the first real chance of the game for Egypt, but Saber produced a brilliant clinical finish.
83! GOAL! FRANCE 1 (MATETA) EGYPT 1: Mateta is played in behind by former Palace team-mate Olise and fires the ball past the goalkeeper to equalise for France, much to the delight of the home crowd.
90+7' VAR DECISION NO PENALTY! (FRANCE): France are denied a last-gasp penalty after a extremely lengthy review. It seemed that Omar Fayed had handled the ball, but the referee adjudges that he was fouled by Bade and decided there will be no penalty.
92 ET' RED CARD! (FAYED): Fayed received a second yellow card just moments into extra time, for a foul on the electric Doue. The Egyptian defender received his first yellow card at the end of normal time for remonstrating with the referee during the VAR review.
99 ET' GOAL! FRANCE 2 (MATETA) EGYPT 1: Mateta puts France ahead in extra time. The Palace striker latches on to Sildillia's header across the box and nods home past Alaa.
If the game stays like this then France will have a chance at gold on Friday.
108 ET' GOAL! FRANCE 3 (OLISE) EGYPT 1: Olise finishes off the match with an excellent finish into the bottom corner, from inside the box.
France have deserved to win the match and Olise has been excellent.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement