Agony for Bryan in Olympic final | OneFootball

Bryan Gil came so close to striking gold for Spain at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.

Our new signing from Sevilla rattled the crossbar with only two minutes remaining of the men’s football final against Brazil with the scores poised at 1-1 at the International Yokohama Stadium.

In the end, it was a case of ‘so near yet so far’ for Bryan as Malcom hit the winner for Brazil in the second half of extra time. Inches away from matching Spurs Women captain Shelina Zadorsky’s gold for Canada, Bryan had to settle for silver this time around; nevertheless, a fine achievement.

Bryan started on the bench as his nation fell behind on the stroke of half-time in the showpiece with Matheus Cunha firing in but, when the winger was brought on at the break, he demonstrated his creativity immediately as he set up Spain’s first chance of note just moments after entering the fray.

On the hour mark, the Spanish found their equaliser as Mikel Oyarzabal spectacularly volleyed home Carlos Soler’s cross at the far post and they could have even gone on to win the affair late on, only for Bryan’s fierce strike from distance to cannon off the frame of the goal.

Ultimately though, it was to be Brazil’s night at the International Yokohama Stadium as in the second half of extra time, substitute Malcom broke through the Spanish lines before slotting home to claim the gold.

Bryan made five appearances for his nation at the games as they earned their best finish at an Olympics since also winning silver at Sydney 2000.