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Spain into Olympic football final
= = SYDNEY, Sept 26 (AFP) - Spain deservedly defeated the United States 3-1 to book their place in the final of the Olympic men's football tournament here Tuesday. First half goals by Tamudo and Angulo, allied to man-of-the-match Jose Mari's late strike were enough to give the 1992 gold medallists a comfortable passage to a final showdown with Cameroon with Pete Vagenas' penalty the Americans' sole response. The Spaniards set the early pace and a piece of quick-thinking from a free-kick put Jose Mari in the clear but the assistant referee raised his flag for a questionable offside decision. After a quarter of an hour the AC Milan striker outmuscled Danny Califf to race away down the right-hand side and his low centre was converted from six yards by Tamudo. Ten minutes later Jose Mari provided the second, taking advantage of a slip on the wet surface by the hapless Califf to play in Angulo, who made no mistake, firing the ball under the advancing Brad Friedel. The US should have pulled one back after 30 minutes but Chris Albright hesitated when clear on goal and was dispossesed. US coach Clive Charles made a dramatic double substition with just 37 minutes gone, hauling off Albright and Ramiro Corrales in a desperate bid to inject some life into his side. And three minutes later Vagenas pulled one back from the penalty spot after Tamudo had fouled Frankie Hejduk. The Spanish striker missed a glorious chance to make amends almost immediately half-time, shooting straight at Friedel from an identical spot to his earlier goal. Spain were content to sit on their lead after the break, though Jose Mari should have sealed their place in the final in the 67th minute but his weak shot did not trouble Friedel. Substitute Ferron thought he had won a penalty with ten minutes remaining when pulled back by Califf but the Tunisian referee adjudged the offence had taken place outside the box. And Jose Mari got the goal he deserved in the 87th minute, tapping into an empty net after Friedel could only parry Tamudo's shot.
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