Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice and Michael Olise added a third as France came from behind to beat Egypt 3-1 after extra time on Monday to set up a men’s Olympic soccer final with Spain.
Thierry Henry’s France appeared headed for semi-final defeat in Lyon after Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead just after the hour mark.
But Mateta, the Crystal Palace striker, equalized from Olise’s assist with seven minutes of 90 remaining.
Egypt were reduced to 10 men at the start of extra-time when centre-back Omar Fayed was sent off and when Mateta headed over the hosts made their numerical superiority count.
Olise then sealed victory on 108 minutes and France, seeking their second Olympic gold medal in men’s football and first since 1984, will now face Spain in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday.
Spain, gold medalists in 1992 and silver medalists three years ago in Tokyo, qualified earlier on Monday after coming from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in Marseille.
Egypt and Morocco meet in Nantes on Thursday in the all-North African play-off for bronze.
France often looked disjointed without suspended midfielder duo Manu Kone and Enzo Millot, who was sent off following his red card at the end of the fiery quarter-final win over Argentina.
However, they had most of the chances and defender Loic Bade hit the post with a header from a corner at the end of the first half.
Egypt soaked up the pressure early in the second half before scoring in the 62nd minute.
Saber’s first attempt was blocked, but when the ball came back to him he created space before lashing a shot past French goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.
The home team almost equalized shortly after, when Mateta’s header was beaten by goalkeeper Hamza Alaa.
They then hit the woodwork twice in the space of seconds, captain Alexandre Lacazette heading in off the post and Bade nodding in the ensuing post.
The equalizer came in the 83rd minute, creator Olise cutting through the middle on a drive before playing in Mateta to finish.
France had hoped to find a winner before extra time, but a penalty appeal after Fayed blocked Bade’s header with his hand was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review.
They went into half an hour of extra time on a sweltering evening and Egypt were quickly reduced to 10 men when Fayed, already booked for a scuffle against a penalty, saw yellow again for hacking down Desire Doue.
France went in front when a corner was played short to Olise and his ball to the far post was headed back across goal by Kiliann Sildillia for Mateta to head home his fourth goal of the tournament. Olise fired in from third early in the second half of overtime after Doue hit a clean ball and fell into his path.
