Bordeaux, France – Olympic Football Update
- Edison Azcona of the Dominican Republic was shown a red card during an Olympic soccer match against Spain.
- The red card was given after Azcona kicked Spanish player Pau Cubarsi in the groin.
- This incident contributed to the Dominican Republic's 3-1 defeat in the match.
In a dramatic turn of events during the Olympic football match on Saturday, Dominican Republic forward Edison Azcona was sent off after a controversial incident involving Spain's Pau Cubarsi. The dismissal occurred in first-half stoppage time at Stade de Bordeaux, with Azcona receiving a straight red card from referee Adel Al Naqbi for kicking Cubarsi in the groin while on the ground. The incident left Cubarsi in visible pain, prompting immediate protests from Dominican Republic players. At the time of the incident, the match was tied 1-1, following a goal from Spain's Fermín Lopez in the 24th minute and an equalizer from Angel Montes de Oca for the Dominican Republic in the 38th. Azcona's expulsion proved pivotal, as Spain capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half. Following the red card, Spain regained the lead with a goal from Alex Baena in the 55th minute. The team continued to dominate, with Miguel Gutierrez adding a third goal in the 70th minute, ultimately sealing a 3-1 victory for Spain. This win allowed Spain to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, while the Dominican Republic faced an early exit. The match highlighted the intensity of Olympic football, with Azcona's dismissal serving as a critical moment that shifted the momentum in favor of the Spanish team.