LYON, France (AP) — Fermin Lopez scored a goal in each half and Spain beat Japan 3-0 to reach the semifinals of the men's soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Abel Ruiz sealed the win late for Spain, the silver medalist three years ago in Tokyo.
Click to Gallery
Spain's Sergio Gomez controls the ball during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Spain's Alex Baena shoots the ball in an attempt to score during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Japan's Hiroki Sekine shoots the ball in an attempt to score as Spain's Juan Miranda defends during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Japan's Shunsuke Mito, right, and Spain's Aimar Oroz battle for the ball during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Japan's Fuki Yamada, left, and Spain's Sergio Gomez battle for the ball during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Japan's Shunsuke Mito reacts after missing an opportunity to score during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Spain's Fermin Lopez celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Spain's Fermin Lopez, left, celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Spain arrived as one of the favorites but there were doubts surrounding the squad after it failed to win its group following a loss to Egypt. Japan, meanwhile, finished at the top of its group after three straight victories.
Lopez opened the scoring with a low left-footed shot from outside the area in the 11th minute, then used his right foot to add to the lead in the 73rd. Ruiz capped the victory from inside the area after a corner kick in the 86th.
Japan had a first-half goal disallowed for offside on a very tight call determined by video review.
Spain's road back to the final will now go through Morocco, which reached the last four by routing the United States 4-0 earlier Friday.
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Spain's Sergio Gomez controls the ball during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Spain's Alex Baena shoots the ball in an attempt to score during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Japan's Hiroki Sekine shoots the ball in an attempt to score as Spain's Juan Miranda defends during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Japan's Shunsuke Mito, right, and Spain's Aimar Oroz battle for the ball during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Japan's Fuki Yamada, left, and Spain's Sergio Gomez battle for the ball during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Japan's Shunsuke Mito reacts after missing an opportunity to score during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Spain's Fermin Lopez celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Spain's Fermin Lopez, left, celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the men's quarter final soccer match between Japan and Spain at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet on Inauguration Day.
Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida, is among the least controversial of Trump’s nominees and vote was decisive, 99-0. Another pick, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, is also expected to have a swift vote, as soon as Tuesday. Action on others, including former combat veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, is possible later in the week.
“Marco Rubio is a very intelligent man with a remarkable understanding of American foreign policy,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the senior-most Republican, said as the chamber opened.
It’s often tradition for the Senate to convene immediately after the ceremonial pomp of the inauguration to begin putting the new president’s team in place, particularly the national security officials. During Trump’s first term, the Senate swiftly confirmed his defense and homeland security secretaries on day one, and President Joe Biden’s choice for director of national intelligence was confirmed on his own Inauguration Day.
With Trump’s return to the White House, and his Republican Party controlling majorities in Congress, his outsider Cabinet choices are more clearly falling into place, despite initial skepticism and opposition from both sides of the aisle.
Rubio, who was surrounded by colleagues in the Senate chamber, said afterward he feels “good, but there’s a lot of work ahead.”
“It’s an important job in an important time, and I’m honored by it,” Rubio said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved quickly Monday, announcing he expected voting to begin “imminently” on Trump’s nominees.
Democrats have calculated it's better for them to be seen as more willing to work with Trump, rather than simply mounting a blockade to his nominees. They're holding their opposition for some of his other picks who have less support, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said his party will “neither rubber-stamp nominees we feel are grossly unqualified, nor oppose nominees that deserve serious consideration.”
Rubio, he said, is an example of "a qualified nominee we think should be confirmed quickly."
Senate committees have been holding lengthy confirmation hearings on more than a dozen of the Cabinet nominees, with more to come this week. And several panels are expected to meet late Monday to begin voting to advance the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously advanced Rubio's nomination late Monday. The Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee, respectively, voted to move the nominations of Hegseth and Ratcliffe. And the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee advanced nominees Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget, but with opposition.
Rubio, a well-liked senator and former Trump rival during the 2016 presidential race, has drawn closer to the president in recent years. He appeared last week to answer questions before the Foreign Relations Committee, where he has spent more than a decade as a member.
As secretary of state, Rubio would be the nation’s top diplomat, and the first Latino to hold the position. Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, he has long been involved in foreign affairs, particularly in South America, and has emerged as a hawk on China’s rise.
During his confirmation hearing last week, Rubio warned of the consequences of America’s “unbalanced relationship” with China. While he echoes Trump’s anti-globalist rhetoric, Rubio is also seen as an internationalist who understands the power of U.S. involvement on the global stage.
Rubio cultivated bipartisan support from across the aisle, both Republicans and Democrats. He takes over for outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has said he hopes the Trump administration continues Biden's policies in the Middle East to end the war in Gaza and to help Ukraine counter Russian nomination.
The Senate is split 53-47, but the resignation of Vice President JD Vance and, soon, Rubio drops the GOP majority further until their successors arrive. Republicans need almost all every party member in line to overcome Democratic opposition to nominees.
Objection from any one senator, as is expected with Hegseth and several other choices, would force the Senate into procedural steps that would drag voting later into the week.
Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, other nominees and appointments, pose for a photo at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. First row from left, Elise Stefanik, John Ratcliffe, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth, Doug Burgum, Brooke L. Rollins, Marco Rubio and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; second row from left, Scott Turner, Tulsi Gabbard, Sean Duffy, Linda McMahon, Lee Zeldin, Kristi Noem, Chris Wright, Doug Collins, Kelly Loeffler and Scott Bessent; and third row from left, Stephen Miran, Jamieson Greer, Kevin Hassett, Kash Patel and Russell Vought. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a nominee for Secretary of State, attends the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP)