Spain’s Olympic “opening” smoothly at the 2024 Olympics
Starting lineup:
Uzbekistan Olympics: Nematov, Mirsaidov, Khamraliev, Khusanov, Yuldashev, Buriev, Kholmatov, Fayzullaev, Jaloliddinov, Odilov, Shomurodov.
Spanish Olympics: Tenas, Pubill, Garcia, Cubarsi, Miranda, Baena, Barrios, Gomez, Lopez, Ruiz, Oroz.
Scored: Shomurodov (45+3′ pen) – Pubill (29′), Gomez (62).
Spain’s Olympic team celebrate after Pubill’s opening goal. Photo: Getty.
With a more balanced and highly rated squad, the Spanish Olympic team easily dominated the game but had difficulty against the tight defense of the Uzbekistan Olympic team. In the 13th minute, Alex Baena took a free kick from a distance of more than 30m and the ball found the position of goalkeeper Nematov.
While the attack was deadlocked, the Spanish Olympic team unexpectedly opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Receiving a pass from a free kick on the left wing from his teammate, Abel Ruiz jumped high but the ball accidentally hit his back, creating a favorable pass for Pubill to finish close to the goal, defeating goalkeeper Nematov.
Conceding the first goal, Uzbekistan Olympic immediately rushed to attack. In the 39th minute, Jaloliddinov took a direct free kick from a distance of nearly 20m but goalkeeper Tenas read his intention and easily caught it.
The joy of the Ozbekistan Olympics after Shomurodov equalized. Photo: Getty.
In the 43rd minute, Cubarsi fouled Hamraliev in the penalty area. After consulting VAR, referee Dahane Beida pointed to the penalty spot. On the 11m mark, Shomurodov easily defeated goalkeeper Tenas, equalizing 1-1 for Uzbekistan Olympic.
In the second half, the Spanish Olympic team pushed up their formation and pressed the Uzbekistan Olympic team. In the 56th minute, referee Dahane Beida awarded a penalty to the Spanish team after Fayzullaev fouled Oroz in the penalty area. Unfortunately, Sergio Gomez’s 11m kick hit goalkeeper Nematov’s leg.
Tenas (No. 17) scored to redeem himself in the 62nd minute. Photo: Getty.
In the 62nd minute, Sergio Gomez made amends when he received a pass in the penalty area from Miranda and then shot past goalkeeper Nematov, raising the score to 2-1 for Olympic Spain.
During the remaining time of the match, Uzbekistan Olympic tried to attack but could not find a way to penetrate goalkeeper Tenas’ net again, so the Asian representative had to accept a 1-2 defeat against Spain Olympic.