France tops England in soccer friendly
SAINT-DENIS, France — Winger Ousmane Dembele scored the winner as 10-man France overcame a red card for Raphael Varane early in the second half to beat England 3-2 in a pulsating friendly on Tuesday.
Teenage striker Kylian Mbappe set up the 20-year-old Dembele’s winner in the 78th minute with an astute pass, and the youthful attacking pair caused problems all night for a patchy England defence with their electrifying speed and skill.
Striker Harry Kane scored both goals for England, while defenders Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe got their first goals for France, as did Dembele.
Only a fine stop from goalkeeper Jack Butland in injury time, and the crossbar earlier, denied Mbappe his first international goal.
It threatened to be another frustrating night for France at the hands of technology, with Varane sent off two minutes into the second half for conceding a penalty. Match referee Davide Massa awarded it after Varane fouled midfielder Dele Alli and then, after using the video referral system, brandished the red card.
Massa took around one minute to make his decision, consulting the video assistant referee while France’s players remonstrated, some shaking their heads and with midfielder Paul Pogba laughing in disbelief.
Captain for the night, Kane slammed home the 48th-minute penalty for his eighth international goal and third in two games for England. He had given England the lead in the ninth minute of an exciting first half, with Umtiti equalizing in the 22nd and Sibibe pouncing in the 43rd.