WATCH: Fermin Lopez brace drags Spain through to Olympic semi-finals against Japan
08/02/2024 12:09 PM
Spain 3-0 Japan
Spain have only dominated games in fits and bursts at the Olympics under Santi Denia, and they relied on Fermin Lopez to see them past Japan, after a disappointing defeat to Egypt in their final group game.
La Roja came out the blocks fast in the quarter-final though, with Lopez getting on the ball outside the box and unleashing a fierce strike into the bottom corner. Then it was Japan who made the running thereafter. If Spain got to half-time in front, it was thanks not to their control, but the woodwork twice and a narrow offside VAR decision with separated their opponents from the scoresheet.
El año pasado estaba jugando en 1ª RFEF. Hoy es campeón de Europa y va en busca del oro olímpico.
Fermín López, 𝑰𝑴𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑨𝑩𝑳𝑬.
¡Se adelanta España ante Japón con un golazo del centrocampista!#ParisRTVE2A#Paris2024
https://t.co/OcXl5Wv1JVpic.twitter.com/oPEQu5F8MF
— RTVE (@rtve) August 2, 2024
Fermín López pic.twitter.com/sgK6lCdiQd
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) August 2, 2024
In the second half, Denia set his men out to manage the match, and it wasn't looking like an entirely successful strategy early doors, as Japan again came forward. As the spaces started to open up, Spain bided their time, and it paid dividends. A warning shot went narrowly wide from Alex Baena after he was found by Lopez, before in the 73rd minute, the Barcelona forward put the game beyond doubt. A set piece was worked to him on the edge of the box, where he controlled on his chest, and fired the bouncing ball high into the net.
ESTE TÍO SOLO SABE MARCAR GOLAZOS.
Fermín, 𝑫𝑬𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑵𝑨𝑫𝑶.
¡El centrocampista firma su doblete y pone a España muy cerca de las semifinales! #Paris2024#ParisRTVE2a
https://t.co/b0KYABSs1Tpic.twitter.com/tFpSQsIH9s
— RTVE (@rtve) August 2, 2024
FERMIN. LOPEZ. pic.twitter.com/jW17Bn1B3e
— Reshad Rahman (@ReshadFCB) August 2, 2024
With ten minutes to go, it looked as if Japan would get back into it, when against all the odds, Arnau Tenas got fingertips to prevent a one-on-one effort. In the final minutes, Abel Ruiz added to their pain, stabbing home from a corner.
Abel Ruiz sabía cosas.
El capitán marca jugada, Sergio Gómez la pone y el '9' la manda a guardar.
¡España marca el tercero y pone pie y medio en semifinales! #ParisRTVE2A#Paris2024
https://t.co/b0KYABSs1Tpic.twitter.com/aizBb47lZr
— RTVE (@rtve) August 2, 2024
Japan 0-3 Spain
Abel Ruíz makes it threepic.twitter.com/vwzbCPf5V7
— PushGoals (@PushGoals) August 2, 2024
Spain created the better chances, but were a long way from dominant all the same. They march on to the semi-finals, where they will face a crunch match against Morocco, who knocked Spain out of the World Cup.
Fermín López has scored 16 (!) goals this season. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/WzdlUUcbBv
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 2, 2024
The post WATCH: Fermin Lopez brace drags Spain through to Olympic semi-finals against Japan appeared first on Football España.
