When the Olympic quarter-finals are decided, we now know which nations will compete for medals in men’s football in Tokyo.
A mix of cagey and exciting business, there was plenty of action to sink our teeth into as the final eight pages battled for a spot in the final four.
Let’s see how these matches turned out.
What game ?
?? 0-1 ?? | 10 ‘?? 1-1 ?? | 30 ‘
?? 1-2 ?? | 90 + 1 ‘?? 2-2 ?? | 90 + 3 ‘
?? 3-2 ?? | 98 ‘?? 4-2 ?? | 117 ‘?? 5-2 ?? | 119 ‘
Spain advances to men’s semi-finals? # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/jostImBsIz
Goals (@ goals) July 31, 2021
This one was just mental.
After the first half’s goals from Eric Bailly and Dani Olmo interrupted each other, it looked as if Max Gradel’s 91st minute strike would send Ivory Coast to the semifinals.
But just a minute after he entered the field, Rafa Mir equalized the score in the 93rd minute to send a draw to extra time. Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty early in extra time gave Spain the lead for the first time in the match, before two late shots from Mir secured an astonishing hat-trick for the Wolves man, a 5-2 victory for La Roja and a place in the last four.
?? Relief for the hosts as they squeeze in penalties? ?
?? But what achievement, and what tournament, from this New Zealand team? #OS | # Tokyo2020 | #Football pic.twitter.com/lzn3UwcgbV
– FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 31, 2021
Despite Japan winning all three group stage matches – 7-1 overall – and New Zealand winning, drawing and losing their group stage matches, nothing could separate the two sides in the quarter-finals.
The hosts dominated the deal, although none of their 21 shots could hit Michael Woud in goal.
Eventually, the tie went to a penalty shootout, where Liberato Cacace and Clayton Lewis both missed spot kicks to allow Maya Yoshida the honor of converting the vital penalty and sending Japan at the expense of a brave Kiwi side.
?? Richarlison becomes supplier. Matheus Cunha puts the defending champions in the #OlympicFootball semifinal? #Olympic Games | #Football | # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/MSVIIyPqu3
– FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 31, 2021
2016 gold medalists Brazil booked their place in the last four with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Egypt.
A slightly closer deal than they have been used to in previous wins in these matches, it was Matheus Cunha who converted nicely from Richarlison’s break in the first half that allowed Brazil to move on to fight for a podium place.
? What game!
? And what a magnificent achievement in Mexico.
? The #OlympicFootball semifinal is waiting for El Tri. #OS | # Tokyo2020 | #Football pic.twitter.com/U2RotXFVRD
– FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 31, 2021
The quarter-finals were rounded off in style with the stinging results of the round – and possibly the tournament – when a sensational Mexico side beat South Korea 6-3.
Mexico advanced early when Henry Martin scored within ten minutes, only for South Korea to tie them back ten minutes later through Lee Dong-gyeong’s stunning 20-yard strike.
But that did not deter the Mexicans, but before half time they found themselves 3-1, thanks to an attack from Luis Romo and a penalty from Sebastian Cordova.
The score continued shortly after the game resumed, as Lee gave the South Koreans a jump six minutes into the second half by making it 3-2. That hope, however, was soon discernible when Martin headed in his second from an exquisite Cordova free-kick in the 54th minute, before the supplier turned the scorer nine minutes later to grab his strut and make it 5-2 just after the hour mark.
Enough with goals? Nä.
Eduardo Aguirre came into the act with six minutes left to play and cooled off from Diego Lainez’s cut. South Korea restored some dignity in the 91st minute and rounded off the score through Hwang Ui-jo to make it 6-3.
And breathe.
