Olympics: Gold medal matches confirmed for men, women’s final

The gold medal matches for the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s and women’s soccer event have been confirmed after Tuesday’s semi-final fixtures for the women’s soccer event. After Monday’s fixtures confirmed Spain and host France for the men’s gold medal match, two matches held on Tuesday as the USA faced Germany while Brazil took on world champions Spain for a place in the final.

In the first game, the US and Germany held each other goalless for 90 minutes and needed extra time before there could be a decider, and the USA found the back of the net in the first time of extra time to seal their final slot.

Sophia Smith’s 95th-minute effort sealed the win and put the USA in the final while Brazil scored three times to beat Spain 3-1 

Although both teams met in the group stage, with Spain emerging victorious in a 2-0 win, the outcome was totally different in the semi-final fixture as Brazil led as early as the sixth minute with Irene Paredes’s own goal.

Brazil doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time through Gabi Portilho, she then provided the assist for Brazil’s third in the 75th minute through Adriana. However, there was some respite for Spain as Salma Paralluelo scored a consolation with five minutes to go albeit Kerolin made sure of the result with a late strike for Brazil.

Brazil will now face the USA in a gold medal match that will give them the opportunity to avenge their CONCACAF Gold Cup final loss to the USA earlier in March this year. The gold medal match will come up on Saturday between Brazil and the USA while the bronze medal fixture will happen 24 hours earlier between Spain and Germany.

For the men’s gold medal match, hosts France will play Spain on Friday, while the bronze medal match will be between Egypt and Morocco on Thursday.