France beat Ireland 1-0 in World Cup qualification playoff

France beat Ireland 1-0 in the World Cup qualification playoff in Dublin's Croke Park stadium, thanks to striker Nicolas Anelka's deflected second-half goal.

REUTERS - France will take a 1-0 World Cup qualification playoff lead over Ireland to Paris for next week's return after striker Nicolas Anelka's deflected second-half goal handed the visitors victory in Saturday's first leg.

France, world champions in 1998 and finalists last time out, eventually shaded proceedings at a packed Croke Park before silencing the home crowd when Anelka's 72nd minute shot spun cruelly in off defender Sean St. Ledger and then the post.

In an even and free-flowing first half, France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac had a goal correctly disallowed for offside while Ireland's Robbie Keane also went close, though his effort would also have been harshly ruled out for a foul.

France's Lassana Diarra was nearly on target in the second period but Giovanni Trapattoni's hard-working Irish side will not be totally dispirited, having at least kept the tie alive going into Wednesday's deciding leg.

 

Date created : 2009-11-15