|
France rallies to beat Costa Rica; Anelka scores
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-11-10 08:39
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique - Nicolas Anelka scored his first international
goal in more than four years and Thierry Henry scored the game-winner to help
rally France from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 victory over World Cup-bound
Costa Rica on Wednesday.
Nicolas Anelka (C) controls the ball between
Leonardo Gonzalez Arce (L) and Carlos Hernandez of Costa Rica in the
Dillon stadium near Fort de France, Martinique, November 9, 2005.
[Reuters] | Djibril Cisse also scored for
France, which is unbeaten in 16 matches since coach Raymond Domenech replaced
Jacques Santini in July 2004.
Alvaro Saborio and Danny Fonseca gave Costa Rica a 2-0 halftime lead before
Anelka scored in the 49th minute to start Les Bleus' comeback.
Liverpool forward Cisse tied the game in the 80th, and Henry deflected a ball
into the net with his heel off a corner from Jerome Rothen in the 87th minute
for his 31st international goal in 74 appearances.
Henry's goal moved him past Just Fontaine and Jean-Pierre Papin among
France's career scoring leaders and tied with David Trezeguet, who missed the
match because of a sciatic nerve problem. Trezeguet is expected to play Saturday
against Germany at Stade de France.
Anelka, who last appeared for France in April 2002 against Russia, last
scored for the national team against South Korea in May 2001.
Playing before a capacity crowd of 16,000 at the Caribbean island of
Martinique's Stade Dillon, Anelka had two chances within the first seven
minutes, failing to connect with Alou Diarra's flick from a corner, and running
onto a ball from Lilian Thuram but putting a shot into Costa Rican keeper Jose
Porras.
|
