Izuchukwu Okosi
Spain set up an all-Iberian Nations League final with Portugal in the UEFA Nations League after a pulsating 5-4 win over France in the second semifinals on Thursday night.
Lamine Yamal scored a brace as Spain dominated in a one-sided game in the first half.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFrance nearly pegged the European champions back towards the end of the game which could have gone into extra time had Le Bleus converted the clear cut scoring chances that came their way.
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Spain were leading 2-0 with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino when Yamal earned a penalty after he was brought down inside the box by Adrien Rabiot.
Yamal stepped up to take the penalty kick and dispatched the ball confidently.
Pedri made the score seem insurmountable in the 55th minute getting the next goal to make it 4-0, as he profited from a Nico Williams’ pass and before finding the back of the net back.
Match referee Michael Oliver awarded France s penalty which Kylian Mbappe converted after Tottenham Hotspur’s foul on the Real Madrid star.
Yamal struck with his second goal of the night and Spain’s fifth goal of the game and at that point, it seemed that the game was over.
But France international of Tunisian origin, Rayan Cherki, who came into the game in the second half for his debut, produced a goal of outstanding quality in the 79th minute when he controlled the ball brilliantly before unleashing a half volley past Unai Simon in goal for Spain.
Spain’s central defender Dani Vivian inadvertently conceded an own goal when the ball came off his body from a Desire Doue shot.
There was a late goal and an unlikely comeback by the French side when Kolo Muani who had few seconds earlier, missed a gilt-edged chance headed home from close range.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
