Substitute Malcolm hits extra time winner as Brazil defends Olympic football gold

Brazil won Olympic men’s football gold for the second consecutive tournament as Malcolm defeated the winner in a 2-1 victory over Spain after extra time on Saturday. Matthias Cunha took advantage of a defensive lapse to score a goal in first-half stoppage time after Richarlison scored a penalty on the crossbar for Brazil. Spain leveled when Mikel Oyarzabal hit a hard volley, but former Barcelona forward Malcolm gave Brazil the title with his own goal in the 108th minute. Brazil, which won the gold medal on home soil at Rio 2016, became the fifth team to retain their Olympic crown on another winning night in Yokohama, where they claimed the last of their five World Cup titles in 2002.

After Neymar took Brazil to Olympic gold, this time it was Danny Alves’ turn to captain the country in the final against a strong Spanish side, with six players participating in Euro 2020.

Unbeaten in the Olympics against a European nation since 1988, Brazil nearly fell behind when Diego Carlos scooped the ball over his own goalkeeper before hooking the line as Oyarzabal tried to dismiss Dani Olmo.

A poor clearance from Unai Simon allowed Richardson to set up Douglas Luiz, whose spinning effort was reversed by the Spain goalkeeper.

Brazil needed a penalty to overtake Mexico in the semi-finals, and after a VAR review they were awarded a spot-kick here as Simon flattened Cunha while attempting to punch a cross.

But Everton forward Richardson wasted his competition-leading five-goal opportunity in a blazing well.

There was no let-off for Spain for the second time though when Alves sent the ball into high field, where a hesitant Pau Torres gave Cunha time to take control and slot into the corner.

Marco Asensio, Spain’s match-winner in extra time against Japan in the previous round, lasted just 45 minutes as Carlos Soler came for the second half, inadvertently getting in the way of Oyarzabal’s goal attempt.

The Brazilian nearly doubled his lead when a quick break resulted in Simon making a brilliant stop with his feet to divert Richardson’s shot over the bar.

Spanish youngster Brian Gil, who will join Tottenham Hotspur on his return from Japan, jolted the bar two minutes from the end, as an additional 30 minutes was needed for the fifth time in eight knockout matches.

Malcolm, who suffered a difficult spell in Barcelona in 2018-19 before leaving for Zenit St Petersburg, ran a long ball from Antony, overtaking Jesus Vallejo and leaving behind Simon to make his mark in the history books. Name entered.

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