The Spanish staff overcame a tough debut at Paris 2024, with a victory in opposition to Uzbekistan (1-2) because of objectives from Marc Pubill within the twenty ninth minute and Sergio Gómez within the 62nd minute that helped them earn three factors regardless of not being superior within the recreation and struggling to carry on to the outcome till the final minute.
Since July 1, the primary day of coaching camp previous to Paris 2024, coach Santi Denia warned his gamers that Uzbekistan, though removed from having an amazing popularity in soccer, was a harmful rival in a very powerful match, the one which opens a brief soccer competitors, with solely two days of relaxation between matches.
These tips took little or no time to take maintain on the pitch on the Parc des Princes, the place the Uzbek staff got here out with extra power, placing stress on the Spanish staff’s ball output and preventing for possession.
A “staff”, as Santi Denia described them beforehand, that stored Spain on the ropes all through the match.
A Spanish Olympic staff missing concepts, with Pablo Barrios with out assist in the midfield, with the defenders making errors with the ball at their delicate ft, one thing that may take its toll earlier than the break.
Nonetheless, Spain had beforehand taken the lead within the twenty ninth minute from a set-piece transfer that does not require a great recreation to do injury. Sergio Gómez and Abel Ruiz, who’ve been taking part in collectively in Spain’s youth groups since 2016, teamed up for a free kick. Sergio crossed, Abel headed in on the close to publish and Marc Pubill got here in on the far publish to make it 0-1.
A aim that gave some peace of thoughts to a Spain that was unable to dominate the sport and ended up paying for it with an indecision in clearing a ball inside the world that ended up being a penalty by Pau Cubarsí on a Muhammadkodir Hamraliev who fell to the bottom with no probability of taking part in the ball.
The penalty was awarded after a assessment on display by Mauritanian referee Beida Dahane and transformed by Uzbek captain Eldor Shomurodov within the first half added time, to the delight of his nation’s followers who gave the match ambiance with chants and drums.
A penalty spot that didn’t smile on Spain on the Parc des Princes. In the identical aim, already within the second half, Sergio Gómez had a spot kick to place Spain again in entrance, however goalkeeper Abduvakhid Nematov saved the Spaniard’s shot along with his proper foot.
Minute 59 and Spain missed a chance that they redeemed three minutes later with the assistance of Sergio Gómez, who took benefit of a low cross from Juan Miranda to, one metre behind the penalty spot and with the ball in movement, make it 1-2.
With half an hour to go, Uzbekistan didn’t lose religion and prevented Spain from controlling the sport with the ball. What’s extra, it was the Uzbeks who had been essentially the most threatening to Arnau Tenas’ aim. Though he didn’t must work onerous at residence, as he’s a Paris Saint-Germain participant, he did expertise the anxiousness of the outcome first-hand.
Nonetheless, Spain had been in a position to withstand Uzbekistan’s assaults, particularly with crosses from the aspect, till the top, together with a assessment of a doable penalty that stored Santi Denia’s males in suspense for 2 minutes of the eight minutes of added time.
Struggling till the top to get three very invaluable factors to start out a event through which Santi Denia’s staff realized from the primary second how a lot it is going to value them to attain the aim of surpassing the silver medal gained in Tokyo 2020.
