FOOTBALL – Morocco reached the men’s football semi-finals for the first time with a resounding 4-0 win over the United States that included two penalties at the Parc des Princes yesterday.
Later, hosts France reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years with a 1-0 win over Argentina thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half goal. France will face Egypt for a place in the final. Egypt claimed a dramatic win on penalties over Paraguay after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Morocco dominatead from the start to prevail in their first-ever Olympic knockout match and set up a clash with Spain, who claimed a 3-0 win over Japan.
A Fermin Lopez double, who scored in the 11th and 73rd, and an Abel Ruiz effort in the 86th sealed the win for La Roja.
Morocco opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Soufiane Rahimi earned them a penalty and converted for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Ilias Akhomach doubled their lead with a close-range finish from Abde Ezzalzouli’s cross in a brilliant team move just past the hour mark before PSG’s Achraf Hakimi got on the scoresheet after a fine solo run to make it 3-0 20 minutes from time.
Substitute Mehdi Maouhoub sealed the rout with another penalty in stoppage time following a VAR review for a handball.
&uuid=(email))