Rafa Mir hat-trick helps Spain make semi-finals in dramatic fashion!

Spain are in the last four, but not without suffering a major scare against the Ivory Coast. Eric Bailly put the Ivorians ahead after 11 minutes, but Dani Olmo took advantage of a defensive error to level the scores in the 30th minute. Spain looked the more threatening side, but Max Gradel looked to have won it for Ivory Coast when he hit past Simon in the 91st minute. However, Rafa Mir punished another defensive error seconds after coming on to force extra-time. 

Luis de la Fuente's men were the better team in extra-time and a Mikel Oyarzabal converted a VAR penalty in the 98th minute to put Spain ahead. That left the Ivorians chasing the game and Rafa Mir scored twice more in the final four minutes to complete his hat-trick and set up a semi-final match with either Japan or New Zealand. Spain fully deserved the win, but the Ivorians will feel they should have gone through after leading twice in a thrilling contest.

Spain had started the better, but they lost Oscar Mingueza to injury and seconds after Jesus Vallejo came on to replace him, Spain fell behind. The corner went into the box, the Spanish defence did not deal with it and Eric Bailly scored with the help of the far post. That setback did not affect Spain though. They levelled on the half hour after Mikel Merino's chipped pass into the area saw Singo chest back to his keeper and Dani Olmo intercepted the underhit pass to beatTape. 

Dao so nearly put the Ivorians in front, but Unai Simon made a fine save. At the other end, Mikel Oyarzabal thought he had put Spain ahead, but VAR spotted that he had just strayed offside. In the second half, the action kept on coming.

Marco Asensio hit the crossbar after a poor throw out by the keeper and then Dani Olmo also tested the goalie. The Ivorians had the odd dangerous move, but Spain were looking more dangerous, especially towards the end. However, totally against the run of play, Max Gradel put the Ivory Coast ahead in stoppage time when his effort across Simon deflected off Vallejo's foot and into the goal. Rafa Mir was then thrown on and he made an instant impact.

Eboue headed a ball into the box straight up in the air, he then let it bounce, Mir was stronger than Bailly in the fight for the ball and he knocked it in to rescue Spain. Then, in extra-time, Spain took charge. Spain were awarded a penalty after a VAR review for a silly handball by Bailly as he blocked Pau Torres' header with his arm and Mikel Oyarzabal made no mistake as he beat the goalkeeper with a penalty down the middle. 

Max Gradel hit the sidenetting for the Ivorians, but he was offside and that was their only real sight of goal. Rafa Mir nearly made it 4-2 in the 111th minute, but he was denied by Tape in the goal, but he managed to score twice late on. First, he hit an effort across the shot stopper which went in off the base of the far upright and then his hat-trick came when Mikel Oyarzabal put the ball on a plate for him in the box. Spain went through, but the 5-2 scoreline makes it seem much more one sided than it actually was.

 

July 31, 2021