Karim Benzema scored twice as France beat 10-man Honduras 3-0 in their bruising FIFA World Cup Group E clash on Sunday in which goal-line technology decided a goal in international competition for the first time in the sport’s history.
The 26-year-old Real Madrid striker produced a superb display in a triumph marked by the use of the computer-generated 3D images to decide if the ball crossed the line.
Three minutes into the second period, the GoalControl system was called into action when a Benzema volley hurtled off a post, flew across the face of the goal, hit Honduras ’keeper Noel Valladares and crossed the line. Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci saw a “GOAL” message flash on his smartwatch and ruled it an own-goal by Valladares.
Photo: AFP
“I shot and the ball hit the post and then the goalkeeper,” Benzema said. “I saw that the ball crossed the line. I don’t know if having technology like this is good for football, but the most important thing was that we have won.”
France coach Didier Deschamps expressed concern at the confusion in the stadium when replays on the giant screen first showed Benzema’s initial shot had not gone in before confirming the ball had crossed the line after hitting Valladares’ hand.
Deschamps said GoalControl was a “good solution,” but “the image shown must be the one that justifies the decision of the referee.”
Benzema opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Wilson Palacios was sent off for two yellows both involving tussles with France’s Paul Pogba, before rounding off a fine afternoon with a narrow angle shot 18 minutes from time.
The victory kept France above Switzerland on goal-difference in Group E after the latter beat Ecuador 2-1 in the day’s earlier game. The two European sides are set to meet next on Friday in Salvador.
Honduras coach Luis Suarez argued with Deschamps over the ruling for a while.
“The first decision of the machine was no goal, the second decision was a goal. You just didn’t know what was going on, what was the truth,” he said.
The game had also started in bizarre circumstances as no national anthem was played before kickoff, with FIFA blaming sound system problems.
Normality was restored once proceedings got under way as France dominated from the off.
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