Silver medallists in Tokyo three years in the past, Spain had been made to work laborious to beat Uzbekistan of their Group C opener on the Parc des Princes in Paris.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among the many spectators watching a Spain facet that includes two members of their Euro 2024-winning squad in Alex Baena of Villarreal and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.
Spain went forward simply earlier than the half-hour mark when Sergio Gomez’s free-kick was helped on by Abel Ruiz to the again submit the place Marc Pubill turned the ball in.
Nonetheless, Uzbekistan had possibilities and drew stage from the penalty spot in first-half added time.
Pau Cubarsi was penalised for a foul within the field following a VAR evaluation, and Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov, the Roma ahead, transformed the penalty.
Cubarsi, the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy, had been booked early within the sport and didn’t reappear for the second half.
Spain received a penalty of their very own for a foul on Aimar Oroz, however Gomez’s kick was saved by goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
Nonetheless, Gomez made up for that by grabbing what proved to be the winner simply after the hour mark.
Juan Miranda reduce the ball again from the byline for Gomez — who has simply joined Actual Sociedad from Manchester Metropolis — to fireplace in.
Spain are in Group C with Egypt and the Dominican Republic.
The decide of Wednesday’s later video games will see hosts France face america in Marseille in Group A, with Thierry Henry’s workforce hoping to win a medal regardless of failing of their makes an attempt to enrol the providers of Kylian Mbappe.
AFP
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