Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise were the stars of the show as France opened their Olympic campaign with a 3-0 win over the USA. Spain beat Uzbekistan 2-1 thanks to a goal from Sergio Gomez.
In an impressive performance, France secured a 3-0 victory over the United States in the Paris 2024 Olympic soccer tournament on Wednesday, with separate goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise. The match, played in Marseille, saw the hosts break a tense stalemate with a spectacular long-range goal from Lacazette in the 61st minute.
Team USA got off to a strong start, nearly taking the lead when George Mihailovic’s shot hit the crossbar with the game still scoreless. However, Lacazette’s goal soon after changed the momentum. He fired a low shot from about 20 yards out, beating USA goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
France extended their lead eight minutes later when Michael Olise, newly signed by Bayern Munich, curled a stunning shot from distance into the same corner of the net. The match was sealed in the 85th minute when Loic Bandet headed home to confirm France’s dominant performance and secure their place at the top of Group A. This victory moves them ahead of New Zealand, who won 2-1 in Guinea.
The day’s events were punctuated by dramatic moments, including Morocco’s 2-1 win over Argentina, which was interrupted for around two hours by fans invading the pitch during stoppage time. Despite Team USA’s promising moments, they were unable to capitalize, allowing France to take full advantage and secure a comprehensive victory.
Spain beat Uzbekistan
Spain kicked off their Olympic campaign with a win over Uzbekistan, securing a 2-1 victory in their Group C opener at the Parc des Princes in Paris. The match, attended by approximately 35,000 fans, was the first official event of the Olympic Games.
Spain took the lead in the 29th minute with a goal from Marc Pubill, reminding fans of the nation’s rich history in the sport, including a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and two silvers, most recently at the Tokyo Games.
Uzbekistan, competing in their first Olympic appearance, equalized just before half-time when Eldor Somurodov successfully converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, Spain’s Sergio Gomez had a chance to retake the lead from the penalty spot in the 59th minute, but his shot was saved by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov. However, Gomez quickly redeemed himself, scoring from around 12 yards just three minutes later to secure victory for Spain.
