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Thrilling final goes into overtime
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (AFP) - A thrilling Olympic men's football final between Spain and Cameroon went into sudden-death extra-time here Saturday. The two sides were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time after Cameroon scored twice in the second half to wipe out Spain's 2-0 advantage at the break. Spain went into the extra period with nine men following the sending-off of midfielder Gabri and forward Jose Mari. Spain, the 1992 gold medallists, made the perfect start, opening the scoring after just 90 seconds when Xavi curled a free-kick over the wall and into the corner of the net. Angulo spurned a glorious opportunity to double the lead in the fifth minute, missing a penalty after Jose Mari had been fouled in the penalty box. The closest Cameroon came to an equaliser was Patrick Mboma's header wide, despite the enthusiastic backing of the vast majority of the crowd. And substitute Gabri made it two for Spain with the last touch of the first half, running onto a header and firing home. But the Indomitable Lions halved the deficit in the 53rd minute when Mboma's cross was deflected into his own net by Amaya. Five minutes later Mboma broke down the right again and his centre was converted by Samuel Eto'o Fils, who plays his football in Spain with Real Madrid, sending the crowd into raptures. Spain were reduced to ten men when Gabri was sent-off in the 70th minute, dismissed for a savage tackle on Nicolas Alnoudji. Jose Mari went after receiving a second yellow card, for diving, in the dying seconds of regulation time.
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