WATCH: Fermin Lopez scores brace helps Spain to take earlier lead in the final against France in Paris Olympics 2024

Two European powers are competing for an Olympic gold medal in the final from Paris on Friday, with hosts France facing reigning Euro 2024 champions Spain. Both teams made it to this level courtesy of late goals. France coach Thierry Henry's side advanced to the gold medal match when Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta helped Les Bleus overcome an early deficit against Egypt in the quarterfinals. At the same time, Spain required a comeback effort to defeat Morocco the previous time out.

France, the 1984 Olympic winners, advanced to the final after defeating Egypt 3-1 in extra time. Les Bleus fell in the second half to a Mahmoud Saber goal, but Jean-Phillippe Mateta equalized seven minutes later to force overtime. 

The hosts have taken the lead thanks to a blunder by Spain's goalkeeper. Enzo Millot puts France ahead 1-0 with a speculative tight-angle shot that causes Arnau Tenas to leap in the wrong direction. Despite this, he gets both hands on the ball, but it ends up in the net. Fermin Lopez scores his fifth goal of the summer after being set up by a pass while completely unmarked on the penalty spot. He scuffs the shot with his first shot, shocked to have so much time, but it still manages to squeeze past Guillaume Restes to equalize.

Watch here the video: 

🎥 - Fermín López’s equaliser in the Gold Medal match against France. pic.twitter.com/wDONIRSGVd

— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) August 9, 2024

🚨🚨| GOAL: FERMIN LOPEZ GIVES SPAIN THE LEAD!!!



France 1-2 Spain



pic.twitter.com/U2d4dRK7ee

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) August 9, 2024

Spain leading in before the half-time

Spain transformed an early deficit into an early lead in just fifteen minutes. After scoring his second goal a putback in front of the net in the 25th minute to help Spain take a 2-1 lead over France, Fermin Lopez already has a brace. Alex Baena scored a free-kick goal into the left corner of the net to give Spain a 3-1 lead in the 28th minute. After trailing 1-0 against France in the eleventh minute, Spain scored three goals quickly over the next ten minutes.

Just before halftime, in stoppage time, France's top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta had another chance to make an impression, but Spain goalkeeper Amau Tenas deflected his header. In a frantic sequence close to the net, Michael Olise's left boot also just drifted outside the left post. Following a foul, France defender Loic BadeŁ also received a yellow card at the conclusion of the half-time.