'Relief' for France, second-half stunners sink Senegal
A Kylian Mbappe double after halftime has sparked two-time world champions France to an entertaining 3-1 win over Senegal in New Jersey.
Kylian Mbappe has scored twice to move past Pele and Lionel Messi with 14 World Cup goals, while Bradley Barcola added another and France rebounded from a surprisingly poor first half to beat Senegal 3-1.
Mbappe had 14 touches in the scoreless first 45 minutes plus added time on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), the fewest of any player, then showed his brilliance when he put Les Bleus ahead in the 66th minute. After Jules Kounde and Michael Olise twice exchanged passes on the right flank, Olise made a diagonal pass as Mbappe burst past Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
Playing at a third World Cup, 27-year-old Mbappe turned onto the ball just outside the six-yard box and slid it past Edouard Mendy and inside the far post in New Jersey.
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Ibrahim Mbaye scored on an angled shot for Senegal five minutes into added time, but Mbappe netted a spectacular long-range goal a minute later, over Mendy’s outstretched arm and just under the crossbar.
“We aren’t at our best yet, but it is great to start a competition like this with a win,” Mbappe said.
“We all know that a World Cup isn’t easy ... I am playing for my country, I want to got to the final.”
Mbappe moved one ahead of Messi and Just Fontaine on the World Cup career scoring list and is tied with Gerd Mueller, trailing only Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) and Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16). Mbappe also set a French record with 58 international goals, one more than Olivier Giroud.
Mbappe travelled to North America off the back of scoring 25 goals last season at club level for Real Madrid.
“Before he (Mbappe) scored the first two goals today, as a captain and outside of the field he does a lot for the group,” France coach Didier Deschamps said through an interpreter.
“It’s a bit of a relief. We were a little apprehensive at the start. Changing Ousmane (Dembele) and Michael’s (Olise) positions made a big difference.
“It’s always important to win your opening match ... It’s only the first game but we’re going to enjoy it.”
Trying to reach their third straight World Cup final, France play Iraq on Monday (Tuesday AEST) in Philadelphia, then close Group I against Norway in Massachusetts. Senegal meet Norway on Monday at the New York New Jersey Stadium and finish the first round against Iraq at Toronto.
With DPA.
