Egypt beat Australia to join Brazil in quarter-finals

TOKYO: Egypt booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics men’s football tournament on Wednesday ater claiming a 2-0 win over Australia.

Goals from Ahmed Yasser Rayan and Amar Hamdy ensured victory in a must-win game for Egypt. Australia needed only a point to advance from Group C, while their opponents had no choice but to go for victory.

Richarlison continued his fine form at the Olympics with a double as reigning champions Brazil, who won gold for the first time on home soil in Rio de Janeiro five years ago, eased into the quarter-finals ater a 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia. They will face face Egypt in the last eight on Saturday.

Matheus Cunha put them ahead in Saitama on Wednesday, but Abdulelah Al-amri’s goal brought the Saudis level before the half-hour mark.

A draw would have been enough for Brazil to go through as group winners, but Richarlison neted in the 76th minute and again in injury time.

The Everton forward is now the leading scorer in the tournament with five goals ater his hat-trick against Germany.

The Germans, runners-up to Brazil in 2016, bowed out ater a 1-1 draw with the Ivory Coast.

Germany had to win to progress, but Benjamin Henrichs’ own goal midway through the second half proved costly. Eduard Lowen’s equaliser shortly aterwards set up a tense finale, but the Ivorians held on to seal second spot in the group and a quarter-final against Spain.

The Spaniards are one of the gold medal favourites. But they scored only twice in the group stage, with a 1-1 draw against Argentina enough to edge them through. Mikel Merino put Spain in front in the 66th minute. Tomas Belmonte neted a late equaliser for Argentina but the point sealed 1992 champions Spain first place in Group C.

Egypt set up a dream clash with Brazil by seeing off Australia 2-0 with goals from Ahmed Yasser Rayan and Ammar Hamdy.

FRANCE HUMBLED BY JAPAN: France had given themselves hope of progressing from Group A when Andre-pierre Gignac scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over South Africa.

But they crashed out as their defence proved fragile again in a 4-0 loss to Japan.

The home side, who reached the semi-finals in London in 2012, made it three wins from three and booked a match against New Zealand.

Real Madrid youngster Takefusa Kubo neted for the third straight match before former Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai’s tap-in doubled the lead.