Lyon: Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice and Michael Olise added a third as France came from behind to beat Egypt 3-1 after extra time on Monday and set up an Olympic men's football final showdown with Spain. Thierry Henry's France looked to be heading for defeat in the semi-final in Lyon after Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead just after the hour mark. But Mateta, the Crystal Palace striker, levelled from Olise's assist with seven minutes of the 90 remaining.
Egypt were reduced to 10 men at the start of extra time when centre-back Omar Fayed was sent off, and the hosts made their numerical superiority count as Mateta headed in. Olise then sealed the win on 108 minutes and France, looking for their second Olympic men's football gold medal and first since 1984, now face Spain in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday. Spain, gold medallists in 1992 and silver medallists three years ago in Tokyo, qualified earlier Monday after coming from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in Marseille.
Egypt and Morocco will meet in Nantes on Thursday in an all-North African play-off for bronze. France often looked disjointed without suspended midfield duo Manu Kone and Enzo Millot, with the latter banned after his red card at the end of the fiery quarter-final win over Argentina. However, they had the majority of the chances and defender Loic Bade hit the post late in the first half with a header from a corner.
Egypt soaked up pressure at the start of the second half before scoring in the 62.