Yamal outshines Ballon d'Or contenders as Spain beats France 5-4 in Nations League semifinal
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Lamine Yamal won the battle of Ballon d'Or contenders on Thursday by scoring twice as Spain eclipsed France 5-4 in their Nations League semifinal.
The 17-year-old Yamal outshone French counterparts Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé as Spain initially ran riot against Didier Deschamps' tired-looking team to book its place in Sunday's final against Portugal.
Portugal defeated host nation Germany 2-1 on Wednesday.
Thursday's game had been billed as a contest between young stars, but it was clear that Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League win in Munich on Saturday had added more weight to French legs with PSG stars Doué and Dembélé disappointing.
Kylian Mbappé scored what seemed a consolation from a penalty, substitute Rayan Cherki scored late on his France debut, then Spain defender Daniel Vivian conceded an own goal, and Randal Kolo Muani, another substitute, scored in stoppage time as France came close to an improbable comeback.
Nico Williams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Yamal threaded the ball through to Mikel Oyarzabal, who held off two defenders and served it on a plate for Williams to rifle to the roof of the net.
Mikel Merino, the hero when Spain last played in Stuttgart, made it 2-0 three minutes later after playing a one-two with Oyarzabal.
Théo Hernandez struck the crossbar and Spain needed goalkeeper Unai Simón to deny Doué, then Mbappé and Dembélé.
But Spain looked capable of scoring at any time. Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen thought he'd scored spectacularly after a brilliantly worked free kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
It was the 20-year-old Huijsen's third game for Spain. It looks like he's set to stay.
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Adrien Rabiot conceded a penalty for a mistimed challenge on Yamal, who dusted himself off to make it 3-0 from the spot in the 54th.
Pedri scored a minute after that, taking Williams' pass with his first touch and dinking it past the bewildered Mike Maignan with his next.
Pedro Porro's foul gave Mbappé his chance from the penalty, but Yamal replied to that by prodding the ball past Maignan.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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