Spain depart with Morocco draw

Luis Milla’s Spanish Olympic team bowed out of the tournament with a goalless draw against Morocco at Old Trafford in Group D.

The pre-tournament favourites once again failed to find the back of the net and suffered an embarrassing exit as Japan and Honduras emerged as surprise qualifiers from Group D.

In what has become familiar fashion in the group games, La Rojita started brightly enough without ever threatening the Moroccan goal, although Adrian Lopez could have put them ahead on the half-hour mark when he crashed a shot against the post after good work by Juan Mata.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, the Moroccans had to wait until the 60thminute to get their first sight of goal when Amrabat set up Barrada inside the Spain penalty area only for goalkeeper David de Gea to deflect his shot wide.

However, 10 minutes later Adrian had what proved to be the best chance of the game when he sprung the offside trap, the Atletico Madrid man finding himself one-on-one with keeper Amsif but, being caught in two minds, he inexplicably dragged the ball wide.

Mata and substitute Cristian Tello both had good chances to have put Spain ahead but fired over and Oriol Romeu had a header cleared off the line, while at the other end Zakaria Labyad blazed a volley over from point-blank range.

Nonetheless, neither side could end the stalemate and Milla’s men returned home having failed to score in four-and-a-half hours of football.

Spain 0-0 Morocco

Spain: De Gea; Azpilicueta, Botia, I Martinez, Alba; Romeu, J Martinez (Herrera 46), Mata, Isco (Tello 56), Muniain (Koke 66); Adrian Lopez

Morocco: Amsif; Jebbour, Abarhoun, Feddal, Noussir; Bidaoui (El Hassanaoui 69), Kharja, Fettouhi, Labyad, Barrada, Amrabat

Referee: Williams (Aus)

Tags La Rojita Luis Milla Morocco Olympics Spain
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