🏅 Mateta stars as France beat Egypt to set up gold medal clash with Spain

There were two Olympic semi-finals that took place in France on Monday night.

Here’s what happened.

France through to final after heated affair with Egypt

Scorers: Saber 62′; Mateta 83′, 99′, Olise 108′

France overcame a 1-0 deficit to take 2-1 win in extra-time over Egypt in what became a heated match.

Following a slow start, France started to improve just before the break and Loïc Badé hit the post after a delivery from Joris Chotard.

Into the second half and Alexandre Lacazette had a fantastic opportunity to score but dithered over the shot and ultimately hit it wide.

After having absorbed all the pressure from France, Egypt went up the other end and Mahmoud Saber slammed home an emphatic effort into the roof of the net.

The goal really sparked the game into life and a Jean-Philippe Mateta header was denied by a fantastic save from Hamza Alaa.

France then hit the post twice in quick succession, as both Lacazette’s strike and Badé’s follow-up struck the woodwork.

Les Bleus found their equaliser with a perfectly weighted ball from Michael Olise, which was converted clinically by Mateta.

France appealed for a penalty for handball, and an extremely lengthy VAR check eventually ruled that there would be no spot-kick awarded.

Omar Fayed received a yellow card for his protests before the referee went to the VAR screen and then received another yellow card for a foul in extra time, leaving Egypt with ten men.

With a man down, it seemed inevitable that France would find their way through, and it was Mateta again with a superb header that put the home side ahead.

The final stages became heated with strong challenges flying in from Egypt, but there was nothing they could do to stop Olise from netting the third and putting France into the final.

Olise went close again in the final minute of extra time, to cap off what ended up being a comfortable win for Les Bleus.

Second half comeback sees Spain reach Olympic final

Scorers: Rahimi 37′;  López 65′, Sánchez 85′

An enthralling first half saw plenty of attacking football on display from both sides, and Morocco were awarded a penalty when Spain’s Pablo Barrios was adjudged to have kicked the back of Amir Richardson’s calf in the penalty area.

The spot-kick was converted with ease by Soufiane Rahimi, who moved to the top of the scorers table with that goal.

Into the second half and Spain found themselves level when star man Fermín López pounced onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and his quick feet delivered a fine finish into the back of the net.

Just when the game seemed like it was heading for extra-time, a layoff from López found Juanlu Sánchez, who drilled his shot past the goalkeeper to put Spain in front with very little time for Morocco to reply.

Morocco had a chance to equalise in added time, but a header from Richardson went over the bar.

The Women’s semi-finals are being held on Tuesday, with USA facing Germany and Brazil taking on Spain.