France were forced to fight back to salvage a draw following an outstanding first-half strike from Ukraine's Mykola Shaparenkoto.
Follow Us
Anthony Martial scored a rare international goal on Saturday to earn a 1-1 draw for France in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Ukraine. The Manchester United forward bundled in the equalizer after Mykola Shaparenko had put the hosts ahead with a brilliant first-half strike. In Eindhoven, Memphis Depay scored a brace as the Netherlands put four past Montenegro without reply. Meanwhile, in Bratislava, Croatia edged past Slovakia courtesy of Marcelo Brozovic’s lone strike.
It was France’s second consecutive draw, they were held by Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday. However, Les Bleus remain four points clear of both Finland and Ukraine on top of qualifying Group D. Ukraine have drawn all five games so far whereas Finland beat Kazakhstan 1-0 earlier in Helsinki and have two games in hand on their rivals.
Ukraine took the lead in the 44th minute, Roman Yaremchuk’s cross from the right was intercepted by Kurt Zouma but the ball came down to Shaparenko outside the box. The Dynamo Kiev midfielder placed the ball at the top right corner with a stunning strike from 20 yards out.
However, Didier Deschamps’ side levelled in the 50th minute. Adrien Rabiot nodded down Kingsley Coman’s cross for Martial to bundle in from close range. It was only his second international goal.
Moussa Diaby came ever so close to scoring the winner from Karim Benzema’s pass but hit the post.
France played some good football at the Kiev Olympics Stadium, but were unfortunate to settle for a draw. Les Bleus will next host Finland on Tuesday.
Croatia stayed on course to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after Brozovic’s late strike earned them three points at Tehelne Pole in their Group H qualifiers on Saturday. The 2018 FIFA World Cup runners-up are now placed second in the group, behind Russia on goal difference.
Croatia missed several key players including their talisman Luka Modric who has been sidelined with a muscle injury. The midfield general’s absence was very much evident in their performance.
However four minutes from time, Juraj Kucka failed to clear a cross and Brozovoc rifled a sumptuous volley into the bottom corner past home keeper Marek Rodak to score the winner.
Croatia will host Slovenia in their next match while Slovakia entertain Cyprus.
Depay opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after he was brought down inside the box by Dusan Lagator. The Barcelona man struck his second in the 62nd minute with a brilliant strike from a tight angle to beat the goalkeeper at the near post.
Eight minutes later, Giorginio Wijnaldum struck the third. Cody Gakpo completed the drubbing with a stunning right-footed curler from outside the box in the 76th minute. It was the PSV Eindhoven winger’s first international goal.
The win helped the Dutch to jump to second place in Group G behind Turkey whom they will host on Tuesday.
