France rallies to beat Costa Rica; Anelka scores (Agencies) Updated: 2005-11-10 08:39
The Ticos beat the French in the 14th minute, sending a ball over the top
that Saborio took and easily beat keeper Fabien Barthez.
Thierry Henry (front) controls the ball as
Walter Centano of Costa Rica looks on at Dillon stadium near Fort de
France , Martinique, November 9, 2005.
[Reuters] | Anelka hit the post in the 33rd
after a pass from Lyon midfielder Florent Malouda, but Costa Rica doubled its
lead in the 41st when Barthez completely missed a cross from the right and
Fonseca headed it into the net.
The goal sparked chants of "Coupet, Coupet" from the crowd, referring to
reserve goalkeeper Gregory Coupet of Lyon.
Porras preserved the 2-0 lead by stopping a header from Henry just before
halftime, but Henry's cross four minutes after the start of the second half
provided Anelka with a tap-in for his seventh goal for France in his 29th match.
Porras again thwarted France with a dramatic 73rd-minute save on a shot from
Sidney Govou, but Cisse equalized by taking a ball from Vikash Dhorasoo on the
edge of the area and curling a shot inside the post.
Domenech praises players after fightback
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Relieved coach Raymond Domenech
paid tribute to his players after they fought back to snatch a 3-2 victory over
Costa Rica in a friendly international on Wednesday.
France were 2-0 down at the break before goals from Nicolas Anelka, Djibril
Cisse and Thierry Henry gave them a face-saving victory on the
French-administered Caribbean island.
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