Sports
Colombia overcome deficit to beat France
Paris, March 24 (IANS) Colombia pulled off an epic comeback against France, scoring thrice to prevail 3-2 in a friendly against a team touted as a favourite to win the 2018 World Cup.
The Colombians join a select club of national sides who can boast of defeating Les Bleus in front of 80,000 people at the Stade de France here on Friday, reports EFE news agency.
For France, meanwhile, their failure to protect a two-goal lead at home must be a cause for concern less than three months from the start of the World Cup in Russia.
But the opening 26 minutes belonged to the French, as N’Golo Kante smothered successive Colombia forays in midfield and Kylian Mbappe hammered again and again at the right side of the visitors’ defense.
Olivier Giroud gave France the lead in the 11th minute, beating Colombia keeper David Ospina to score his 30th international goal.
Thomas Lemar made it 2-0 for Les Bleus in the 26th minute. The goal sparked protests from the Colombians, who thought the play should have been stopped earlier due to alleged foul by Antoine Griezmann.
The tide turned two minutes later.
Coach Jose Pekerman moved his lines forward and the Colombians made deeper inroads, provoking France keeper Hugo Lloris into a reckless foul against Luis Muriel.
The referee pointed to the spot and Muriel converted, cutting the French lead in half.
Colombia gained the advantage in possession, though France remained a threat on the counter thanks to the pace of Mbappe, who served up a perfect ball to Griezmann in the 39th minute only for the Atletico Madrid star to waste the chance.
The South American squad carried their new-found confidence into the second half.
Lloris was up to the task when Muriel challenged him in the 57th minute, but the equaliser came just five minutes later on a goal by Radamel Falcao, his 29th for Colombia.
The second goal for the Colombians silenced the French fans and the team likewise seemed demoralised.
With five minutes left in regulation, a foul by Umtiti against Izquierdo resulted in another penalty, converted by Quintero to complete the comeback.
–IANS
ajb/sac
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
