France got their first win in Group F of the Women’s World Cup thanks to a thrilling 2-1 victory against Brazil at Brisbane’s Lang Park on Saturday. Captain Wendie Renard’s header seven minutes from time was the game-winner for France. Herve Renard’s side picked up their first win as a team.
After starting their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica on Sunday, the French defender met the corner taken by Selma Bacha with a solid downward header that rebounded back up off the grass and beyond goalkeeper Leticia to earn the French all three points.
France now has four points after their first two games, one point more than Brazil, who started the competition with an easy 4-0 win against Panama. Brazil’s first game was against Panama, and they won by a score of 4-0.
In the seventeenth minute, France’s all-time top scorer Eugenie Le Sommer provided her team the ideal start, only a few seconds after seeing Leticia keep out her initial shot despite having to extend to her fullest ability.
Le Sommer scored the game’s first goal with a header that she guided in after Sakina Karchaoui’s arcing pass from deep on the left was headed back across goal by Kadidiatou Diani. The Brazilian goalkeeper wasn’t able to do anything to stop the goal since she was out of position.
The Brazilians blew a chance to tie the game in the middle of the first half when Adriana’s shot went wildly off goal after she had set her eyes on the top corner after Debinha’s layoff.
Debinha pounced on the rebound and coolly slotted the ball beyond Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to bring the score level for Pia Sundhage’s team. Kerolin’s first shot had been diverted into the striker’s path by Le Sommer. It took until the 58th minute for the score to be leveled.
But with seven minutes left to play, France’s increasing pressure paid off when Renard hammered her header into the grass at Lang Park. The ball rebounded beyond Leticia, giving Renard’s squad the much-needed win they were looking for.