Spain come from behind to beat Australia in World Cup semi-final thriller
Spain to face Argentina in Sunday's FIBA World Cup final against Spain
Friday 13 September 2019 17:27, UK
Marc Gasol netted 33 points and Ricky Rubio dished out 12 assists as Spain came from behind to beat Australia 95-88 in a double-overtime thriller and reach Sunday's FIBA World Cup final against Argentina.
Contesting their first semi-final since winning the tournament in 2006, Spain led by a single point after the first quarter but suffered a shooting slump in the second that enabled the Australians to open up an eight-point lead.
Things were looking bad for Spain as Australia increased their lead to double digits in the third, but they upped the tempo on defence, shackling Australian ball-handler Patty Mills as Gasol and Rubio dragged their team back into the game to force overtime.
The first extra period ended even but as Australia's shooting touch around the basket deserted them, Spain finally found their offensive rhythm to pull away in the second and go through to Sunday's final where they will face either Argentina or France.
Luis Scola scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Argentina breezed past France 80-66 to book their place in Sunday's showpiece event.
France blew the tournament wide open by beating favourites and reigning champions USA in the quarter-finals, but they never got going here as star centre Rudy Gobert struggled and shots from beyond the arc would not drop for them.
Frank Ntilikina top-scored for the French with 16 points and Louis Labeyrie added eight off the bench, but all too often they left open lanes to the basket for the aggressive Argentinian attack to exploit.
Scola made the most of their defensive lapses, scoring several easy layups, hitting three of four three-pointers and making nine of 10 free throws in a dominant offensive performance to lead his team to their first final appearance since 2002.
