France 3-1 Belarus: Capoue, Jallet and Ribery seal two wins in a week for Les Bleus
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France recorded its first win over Belarus to continue its perfect start to its World Cup 2014 qualification series, coming through 3-1 at Stade de France.
After a rather sterile first half, the game took light after the break, with Etienne Capoue’s first international goal giving the hosts a deserved lead. Christophe Jallet’s seemingly fortunate strike midway through the second period seemed to have made Didier Deschamps’ men safe, but less than four minutes later the visitors were back in the game, with Anton Putsila forcing home the rebound to Sergei Kornilenko’s saved penalty. Ten minutes from time, Franck Ribery finally secured the points with a deft finish.
Les Bleus started with real bluster and fashioned a number of early opening that might have yielded a goal. The best of these typically came from Yohan Cabaye set pieces, with Mamadou Sakho twice finding himself in the box without managing to force the ball beyond Syarhey Vyeramko.
The best moment came from Olivier Giroud, however. Positioned on the penalty spot the Arsenal striker managed to direct a fine header towards the corner of the net, yet the goalkeeper threw himself across to save well.
Belarus was largely a defensive side in the first period, but after the break immediately showed more attacking threat. Before the hosts opened the scoring, Stanislav Dragun found himself clear on goal but was brilliantly denied by Hugo Lloris and moments later could not steer a header on target.
France made its guest pay a heavy price as it broke up field swiftly to open the scoring. Ribery made a fine surge down the right and wisely selected to cut a pass back to the edge of the box, where Capoue sidefooted into the net.
Although it was clear that Belarus’ challenge was not over, Jallet’s goal was expected to sap their morale. The right-back was getting forward increasingly well, yet there was a touch of fortune about his strike as his driven cross instead clattered off the underside of the bar and into the net.
Putsila breathed life into the encounter four minutes later, winning a penalty when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa brought him down in the box. Although Lloris saved, Kornilenko’s effort, the midfielder reacted quickest to convert the loose ball.
Any nerves the hosts might have suffered late on were doused by Ribery, who finished in magnificent style after Karim Benzema’s clever work allowed him to burst clear into the box, in the process ensuring that France are the early pace setters in Group I.
After a rather sterile first half, the game took light after the break, with Etienne Capoue’s first international goal giving the hosts a deserved lead. Christophe Jallet’s seemingly fortunate strike midway through the second period seemed to have made Didier Deschamps’ men safe, but less than four minutes later the visitors were back in the game, with Anton Putsila forcing home the rebound to Sergei Kornilenko’s saved penalty. Ten minutes from time, Franck Ribery finally secured the points with a deft finish.
Les Bleus started with real bluster and fashioned a number of early opening that might have yielded a goal. The best of these typically came from Yohan Cabaye set pieces, with Mamadou Sakho twice finding himself in the box without managing to force the ball beyond Syarhey Vyeramko.
The best moment came from Olivier Giroud, however. Positioned on the penalty spot the Arsenal striker managed to direct a fine header towards the corner of the net, yet the goalkeeper threw himself across to save well.
Belarus was largely a defensive side in the first period, but after the break immediately showed more attacking threat. Before the hosts opened the scoring, Stanislav Dragun found himself clear on goal but was brilliantly denied by Hugo Lloris and moments later could not steer a header on target.
France made its guest pay a heavy price as it broke up field swiftly to open the scoring. Ribery made a fine surge down the right and wisely selected to cut a pass back to the edge of the box, where Capoue sidefooted into the net.
Although it was clear that Belarus’ challenge was not over, Jallet’s goal was expected to sap their morale. The right-back was getting forward increasingly well, yet there was a touch of fortune about his strike as his driven cross instead clattered off the underside of the bar and into the net.
Putsila breathed life into the encounter four minutes later, winning a penalty when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa brought him down in the box. Although Lloris saved, Kornilenko’s effort, the midfielder reacted quickest to convert the loose ball.
Any nerves the hosts might have suffered late on were doused by Ribery, who finished in magnificent style after Karim Benzema’s clever work allowed him to burst clear into the box, in the process ensuring that France are the early pace setters in Group I.
England 1 Ukraine 1
Hodgson’s Wembley bow.
The Three Lions veteran slotted home an 87th-minute penalty on Hodgson’s first competitive game at HQ.
Yevhen Konoplyanka’s first-half rocket had put the Eastern Europeans on track for victory.
But Lampard scored from the spot after Yevhen Khacheridi handled in the box.
IN CHARGE ... boss Roy Hodgson watches on
It was a late let-off for Hodgson’s men — yet there was to be one final twist as skipper Steven Gerrard was dismissed for a second yellow card a minute from the end.
Konoplyanka broke the deadlock with his 39th-minute thunderbolt.
But England were fuming that they were not already ahead when he struck.
Jermain Defoe had an early goal harshly chalked off.
The Tottenham hitman forced his way through and belted a shot home from outside the box.
But ref Cuneyt Cakir called Defoe back for an elbow on Andriy Yarmolenko.
Tom Cleverley then blew a golden chance when he prodded Defoe’s header straight at keeper Andriy Pyatov.
It was an astonishing miss from England’s bright young thing.
TOM GLUM ... Cleverley misses a sitter
Yet it did not get better for the Manchester United star, who went on to hit the post after Konoplyanka’s cracker.
His club team-mate Danny Welbeck should have had a leveller in the dying stages.
But he too fluffed his lines when he jabbed a shot against the post.
England, though, had one final chance — when Khacheridi punched away Welbeck’s cross.
Lampard did the business from 12 yards although the comeback was soured by Gerrard’s late dismissal.
ROCK
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