Tokyo Olympics: Brazil defend men’s football title with win over Spain

Brazil score
Brazil were competing in their third successive gold medal match in the men’s tournament
Dates: 23 July-8 August Time in Tokyo: BST +8
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and Sounds; live text and video clips on BBC Sport website and app.

Brazil defended their Olympic men’s football title following a dramatic extra-time victory over Spain at the Nissan Stadium.

Substitute Malcom raced in behind and slotted home the winner after 108 minutes to hand Brazil the gold medal.

Five years ago, Neymar scored the winning penalty as Brazil beat Germany to win their first gold on home soil.

Mikel Oyarzabal’s volley for Spain had ruled out Matheus Cunha’s opener in the second half of normal time.

In an enthralling contest between two of football’s biggest heavyweights, Everton forward Richarlison missed a penalty and hit the crossbar.

Spain substitute Bryan Gil also hit the woodwork with a stunning long range strike a minute before extra time.

Brazil were competing in their third successive gold medal match at the Games – following on from the gold they won in Rio and a silver picked up in London 2012.

The 1992 champions Spain were tipped for gold before the tournament started as they had a squad laden with players who featured in this summer’s European Championship.

Among them were Barcelona’s Pedri and Eric Garcia, Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon.

The Spaniards struggled to hit top form, despite grinding their way into the final, and did not show enough quality to snatch gold from Brazil.

Line-ups

Brazil

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Melo dos Santos Neto
  • 13Alves da Silva
  • 15Mota Filho
  • 3Santos Silva
  • 6Arana LopesBooked at 20mins
  • 5Douglas LuizBooked at 89mins
  • 8Guimarães Rodriguez Moura
  • 11dos SantosSubstituted forVinicius Meninoat 112′minutes
  • 9Santos Carneiro Da CunhaBooked at 65minsSubstituted forMalcomat 90′minutes
  • 20Rodrigues Parisi LeonelSubstituted forCarvalhoat 105′minutes
  • 10RicharlisonBooked at 31minsSubstituted forSampaio Filhoat 114′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Vinicius Menino
  • 4Queiroz de Alencastro Graça
  • 7Sampaio Filho
  • 12Oliveira Fraga Costa
  • 17Malcom
  • 18de Souza
  • 19Carvalho

Spain

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Simón
  • 18GilSubstituted forVallejoat 90′minutes
  • 12GarcíaBooked at 27mins
  • 4Torres
  • 3CucurellaSubstituted forMirandaat 90′minutes
  • 8MerinoSubstituted forSolerat 45′minutes
  • 6ZubimendiSubstituted forMoncayolaat 112′minutes
  • 16González
  • 7AsensioSubstituted forGilat 45′minutesBooked at 105mins
  • 11OyarzabalSubstituted forMirat 104′minutes
  • 19Olmo

Substitutes

  • 5Vallejo
  • 9Mir
  • 13Fernández
  • 14Soler
  • 15Moncayola
  • 20Miranda
  • 21Gil

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Brazil U23 2, Spain U23 1.

  2. Second Half Extra Time ends, Brazil U23 2, Spain U23 1.

  3. Offside, Spain U23. Carlos Soler tries a through ball, but Rafa Mir is caught offside.

  4. Substitution, Brazil U23. Paulinho replaces Richarlison.

  5. Attempt missed. Bruno Guimarães (Brazil U23) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Reinier.

  6. Attempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain U23) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  7. Substitution, Brazil U23. Gabriel Menino replaces Antony.

  8. Substitution, Spain U23. Jon Moncayola replaces Martín Zubimendi.

  9. Goal! Brazil U23 2, Spain U23 1. Malcom (Brazil U23) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the top right corner. Assisted by Antony following a fast break.

  10. Corner, Spain U23. Conceded by Nino.

  11. Foul by Juan Miranda (Spain U23).

  12. Antony (Brazil U23) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  13. Foul by Rafa Mir (Spain U23).

  14. Douglas Luiz (Brazil U23) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  15. Second Half Extra Time begins Brazil U23 1, Spain U23 1.

  16. Substitution, Brazil U23. Reinier replaces Claudinho.

  17. First Half Extra Time ends, Brazil U23 1, Spain U23 1.

  18. Bryan Gil (Spain U23) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  19. Foul by Bryan Gil (Spain U23).

  20. Malcom (Brazil U23) wins a free kick on the left wing.