Defenders of gold from Brazil, home Japan, Mexico and Spain advanced to the semifinals of the Olympic football tournament. The “Canaries” defeated Egypt 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and in the next phase they will challenge the Mexicans, who have overshot South Korea 6: 3. The Japanese defeated New Zealand 4: 2 on penalties after a score of 0: 0 and will face the Spaniards in the final. They won over Côte d’Ivoire 5: 2 after extra time thanks to a hat-trick replaced by Rafa Mira.
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Brazil’s soccer players have dealt with Egypt
Kim Hong-ji, Reuters
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The Brazilian team in Saitama secured Matheus Cunha’s closest triumph with a shot from the 37th minute. Richarlison scored his assist, with the Olympic team’s top scorer with five goals. The South American favorites did not turn another chance, but at the same time they did not let Egypt into anything more serious.
The Mexicans in Yokohama started to win in the first half, which they dominated 3: 1 after the goals of Henry Martín, Luis Roma and the converted penalties of Sebastián Córdova. The Koreans returned to the game shortly after the I Tong-kjong break with their second goal in the match, but then Martín and Córdová scored again, followed by substitute Eduardo Aguirre. The defeat of the Asian team was only mitigated by Hwang U-cho.
The Japanese hold out hope for a medal
Japan’s balanced duel with New Zealand in Kashima did not bring a goal even within 120 minutes. All home executors succeeded in the penalty shootout, on the other hand, the Japanese goalkeeper Kosej Tani caught Liberat Cacacea and his teammate Clayton Lewis overshot. The Japanese footballers thus kept the chance for the first Olympic medal since 1968.
Eric Bailly was sent to the Ivory Coast in Rif in the tenth minute, and the Spaniard Dani Olmo answered before the break. Max Gradel returned the African team’s lead in the first minute of the set-up, but after two minutes Mir’s new substitute leveled again. The extension was clearly dominated by the semifinalists of this year’s European Championship. First, Mikel Oyarzabal converted the penalty and in the end, the forward Mir won twice more.
| Football: |
| Men’s Quarterfinals: |
| Spain – Ivory Coast 5: 2 after extra time (2: 2, 1: 1) |
| Goals: 90. + 3, 117. to 120. + 1 Mir, 30. Olmo, 98. Oyarzabal z pen. – 10. Bailly, 90. + 1 Gradel. |
| Japan – New Zealand 0: 0, to pen. 4: 2 |
| Brazil – Egypt 1: 0 (1: 0) |
| Branka: 37. Cunha. |
| Korea – Mexiko 3:6 (1:3) |
| Goals: 20. and 51. I Tong-kjong, 90. + 1 Hwang U-cho – 12. and 54. Martín, 39. z pen. and 63. Córdova, 30. Romo, 84. Aguirre. |
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