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Benzema Nets a Brace,As France Ease Past Honduras

A Karim Benzema brace inspired France to a comfortable 3-0 win over ten-man Honduras in Group E of the World Cup.

The game also saw the first successful usage of goal-line technology in the tournament during France’s second goal – ruling that Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares had pushed the ball over the line in the 48th minute.

Benzema fired a shot off the post and after it appeared that the Honduran keeper had prevented it from going in, the GoalControl system showed that the ball had trickled over the line giving France a 2-0 lead while officially confirming it as a Valladares own goal.

The game was keenly contested and tempers flared when Paul Pogba and Wilson Palacios clashed in midfield, with the Juventus midfielder appearing to kick out at Palacios. Despite the Honduras bench calling for Pogba to be sent off, both players were issued with a yellow card.

Moments before half-time, France were awarded a penalty after Pogba was bundled over in the area by the Stoke City player – with Palacios receiving his second yellow card and subsequent marching orders.

Benzema scored his first of the game after firing the resulting spot-kick into the top-left corner – giving France a richly deserved 1-0 lead before the break.

France’s Benzema was in inspired form and he scored his second of the game twenty minutes from time. After Mathieu Debuchy’s deflected shot fell into his path, the Real Madrid man hit it high into Valladares’ goal – giving France their third goal and a deserved three points.