Paris 2024: Omorodion goal not enough as Egypt shock Spain in Olympic thriller

Super Eagles-eligible striker Samuel Omorodion scored for Spain’s U23 side in the final group game of the 2024 Paris Olympics, but his goal was merely a consolation as Egypt stunned La Roja with a 2-1 victory, to top the group and qualify for the quarterfinal.

Omorodion, who seems to be sticking with his decision to represent Spain at international level, scored in the 90th minute to give his side a fighting chance against Egypt, but the largely second-string Spanish U-23 side could not do enough to overcome a 2-0 deficit.

The match started with Egypt adopting a cautious approach, but they quickly found their rhythm. In the 40th minute, Ahmed 'Zizo' Sayed delivered a precise assist to Ibrahim Adel, who finished expertly to give Egypt a 1-0 lead. Spain tried to respond before halftime but struggled to break through Egypt's resilient defence.

As the second half began, Egypt doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute. Ibrahim Adel capitalized on a defensive error, calmly slotting the ball home from close range to make it 2-0. This goal further galvanized the Egyptian side, but Spain was determined to fight back.

Spain increased the intensity of their attacks and finally broke through in the 90th minute when Omorodion headed the ball into the net, reducing the deficit to 2-1. The referee then announced 10 minutes of injury time, setting the stage for a tense finale.

In the final moments, Egypt had a chance to put the game beyond doubt when Ahmed Atef found himself clear on goal, but his effort was denied by the Spanish goalkeeper. Despite this missed opportunity, Egypt held firm to secure a historic victory.

This victory sees Egypt topping Group C with seven points and the young Pharaohs will play against the runners-up from Group D in the quarterfinal on August 2nd.