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Rediff.com  » Sports » Football friendlies: France win but Mbappe injured

Football friendlies: France win but Mbappe injured

November 21, 2018 08:59 IST
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Giroud penalty gives France win over Uruguay, Mbappe injured

France

IMAGE: France's Kylian Mbappe in action with Uruguay's Martin Campana. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

France striker Kylian Mbappe went off nursing a shoulder injury as they beat Uruguay 1-0 with an Olivier Giroud penalty in a rematch of their World Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Mbappe was substituted in the 36th minute after being injured during a France attack.

 

Tanguy Ndombele threaded a pass through the Uruguay defender to set Mbappe clear, goalkeeper Martin Campana came out to block the ball with his feet but the Paris St-Germain teenager was sent flying and landed awkwardly on his shoulder.

Mbappe soldiered on for a few more minutes before asking to be substituted.

He had missed a chance to put France in front shortly before that when Antoine Griezmann sent him clear and he shot wide.

France, who beat Uruguay 2-0 on the way to winning the World Cup, broke through in the 52nd minute.

Griezmann had two shots charged down in succession but the referee ruled that Uruguay's Martin Caceres had used his outstretched hand to stop the second and gave a penalty.

Giroud sent a low shot into the left-hand corner for his 33rd goal in 87 international appearances.

Uruguay put the French under pressure in the last half hour but did not seriously trouble goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Neymar injured as Brazil beat Cameroon 1-0

Brazil beat Cameroon 1-0 in a friendly on Tuesday despite losing captain Neymar to injury after seven minutes, as Richarlison's goal made it six wins and six clean sheets for Tite's side since the World Cup.

Brazil took some time to recover from Neymar's departure after the Paris St Germain striker limped off with what looked like a groin strain, but his replacement Richarlison got the game's only goal with a superb header from a corner a minute before halftime.

A slew of halftime substitutions led to a more open game in the second half as Brazil gradually took control.

Substitute Gabriel Jesus was unlucky not to double the lead after 53 minutes when he hit the post from outside the box with the goalkeeper stranded and Artur saw his 25-metre drive smack the top of the bar.

Allan also had two good chances to make the scoreline more representative of the action, but Cameroon keeper Fabrice Ondoa was in fine form after coming on at halftime.

"In our last game I had a chance but unfortunately didn't score," Everton's Richarlison told reporters. "Today I was able to concentrate better, get a goal and help the team."

"Tite asked us to play more openly, to switch places with Willian. We needed movement to confuse their central defenders. It worked, we created spaces and had chances to score."

The win was Brazil's sixth in succession since they were knocked out the World Cup by Belgium in July.

The result continued Clarence Seedorf's difficult start as Cameroon coach, with his team having recorded one win his first five games having scored only two goals.

Dominant Italy grab last-gasp win over United States

Italy substitute Matteo Politano struck in the final minute of stoppage time to snatch a deserved 1-0 win over the United States in a friendly on Tuesday.

Roberto Mancini's side had scored just three times in their last five matches and left it late to ensure victory over the U.S. despite dominating possession and creating several excellent chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Mancini made seven changes from the 0-0 draw with Portugal in Milan on Saturday and secured second spot in Nations League Group A3, handing a debut to Sassuolo midfielder Stefano Sensi.

However, his refreshed team looked destined for another stalemate until Inter Milan winger Politano drilled a low shot past goalkeeper Ethan Horvath in the dying moments.

Leonardo Bonucci had spurned a glorious chance after 18 minutes when he sprung the offside trap to meet Sensi’s free-kick, only for Horvath to rush out and block the effort.

The American keeper was called into action again in the final five minutes of the half, tipping over a long-range Domenico Berardi effort before beating away a dangerous Marco Verratti set piece as Italian pressure mounted.

The Azzurri continued to dominate after the break and another great chance went begging when Kevin Lasagna was sent clean through only to see his finish smothered by Horvath.

Italy were nearly made to pay for their profligacy five minutes later as the U.S. came close with their first chance of the game, keeper Salvatore Sirigu rescuing Italy with a superb reaction save from a Walker Zimmerman header.

Midway through the second half Juventus' 18-year-old striker Moise Kean came on and became the first senior Italy player born after the year 2000, but it was fellow debutant Vincenzo Grifo of Hoffenheim, a halftime substitute, who came closest as his long-range effort was acrobatically tipped wide by Horvath.

With five minutes remaining Kean held the ball up inside the area only for Lasagna to collect it and fire over from close range, but the Udinese striker’s blushes were spared when Politano rattled in his 94th minute strike.

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Source: REUTERS
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