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Spanish coach wary of Cameroon threat
SYDNEY, Sept 26 (AFP) - Spanish coach Inaki Saez Ruiz admitted he would rather be facing Chile than Cameroon in the final of Olympic men's soccer tournament after his side's 3-1 semi-final win over the United States. First half goals by Tamudo and Angulo, allied to man-of-the-match Jose Mari's late strike were enough to earn the 1992 gold medallists a showdown with the unpredictable Africans on Saturday. "We would have known a lot more about Chile than we do about Cameroon," he said. "But we do know that Cameroon will be a formidable opponent as they have beaten Brazil and now Chile." But Ruiz is confident his team can emulate their predeccesors of eight years ago, who had the advantage of playing on home soil. "We lost to Chile which was a set-back but then we beat Italy, who are the European champions, and now we are in the final so our morale has gone from negative to positive," he said. "It was a deserved victory but at 2-1 anything can happen so I was glad we scored the third goal." US coach Clive Charles said his side had suffered from the effects of their win on penalties over Japan in the previous round. "We played 120 minutes of hard football then had all the emotions of a penalty shoot-out and that took its toll," he said. "They were a yard quicker today but I'm not disappointed in my team because they have been fabulous throughout the tournament." He predicted the Spaniards would grab gold in the final. "Cameroon are very good individually but Spain play better as a team and keep possession," he said. AC Milan striker Jose Mari was the man who inspired Spain, setting up two goals and rounding things off with one for himself. After a quarter of an hour he outmusculed Danny Califf to race away down the right-hand side and his low centre was converted from six yards by Tamudo. Ten minutes later he took advantage of a slip on the wet surface by the hapless Califf to play in Angulo, who fired the ball under the advancing Brad Friedel. The US should have pulled one back after 30 minutes but Chris Allbright hesitated when clear on goal and was dispossesed. US coach Clive Charles made a dramatic double substition with just 37 minutes gone, hauling off Allbright 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. 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. "Jose Mari was involved in everything today. He has gone from a minus to a plus, plus," said Ruiz.
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