In the first round of the Olympic Men's Soccer group stage, Mali U23 and Israel U23 gave their fans an exciting match. In the first half, both teams showed strong desire to win and excellent technical and tactical skills, but neither team was able to break through the other's goal.
Soon after the match started, Mali showed the threat of their sharpshooter Dumbya. During a quick counterattack, Dumbya dribbled into the penalty area and faced a number of Israeli defenders, he skillfully turned and fired a shot, but unfortunately, the Israeli goalkeeper reacted quickly to the ball and pounced on it to clear the danger.
Mali's offense continued to intensify, and Brahima Diarra had a great chance to score in front of the penalty area. He took the ball with a powerful kick, and it went straight to the corner of the goal with the sound of the wind, but unfortunately, the ball finally grazed the post and flew out of the bottom line, and Mali once again missed a good opportunity.
Into the second half, the pace of the game gradually accelerated, and the physical fitness of the players on both sides began to decline. However, it was at this point that a dramatic scene appeared on the field. In an attack by the Israeli team, the ball was cleared to the front of the penalty area, but Mali defender Diallo inadvertently kicked the ball into his own goal when clearing the ball, making an own goal, and the Israeli team accidentally took the lead.
The Malian team did not give up after the loss and quickly adjusted their tactics to intensify their attacks on the Israeli goal. Finally, around the 70th minute, Mali had a chance to equalize. Tiemoko Diarra sent a precise cross from the side of the field, and Dumbya jumped up high in the penalty area to head the ball into the net, and Mali equalized the score.
In the ensuing game, neither team was able to change the score again. Although the Malian team dominated the field, the Israeli team's defense did a pretty good job, and they managed to hold on to the draw. Finally, with the referee's whistle, the match ended with Mali U23 and Israel U23 shaking hands with a score of 1-1.
