Two for Benzema in French stroll
Friday, 11 February 2005
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PrintBy Andrew Haslam at City stadium
France came from a goal down to record a fourth successive UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup victory in Soke, Jérémy Menez, Karim Benzema twice and Franck Songo'o scoring after Sherif Ashraf Okily had given Egypt an early lead.
Impressive recovery
The Egyptian captain opened the scoring in the 12th minute but his side's joy was short-lived as Menez prodded France level five minutes later. Benzema gave the European side the lead early in the second half and from then on the result was never in doubt, Benzema and Songo'o adding gloss to the final score in the final 20 minutes.
Unchanged side
With Ayman Mohamdy Farahat suspended following his dismissal on Matchday 3, Egypt coach Ismail Youssef made three alterations; Abdallah Farouk Abd El-Rehim, Ahmed Abdelrahman Abd Al-Azim and Ahmed Hassan Ibrahim all coming in. France coach Philippe Bergeroo named an unchanged lineup and saw his team begin the brighter, Menez and Benzema both having brief early glimpses of goal.
Simple chance
The opening goal came at the other end, however, in the 12th minute. Egypt winger Mostafa Talaat Ahmed, a threat throughout the opening half, got away from Serge Gakpe and Thomas Mangani down the right and his cross bypassed goalkeeper Benoît Costil, giving Okily an unmissable opportunity.
Close-range leveller
Five minutes later, Sandy Paillot's header following a corner led to a goalmouth scramble which ended with Menez turning the ball in from practically on the goalline. The equaliser was the cue for France to seize control, with Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Adel Ali turning behind Benzema's shot a minute before the interval.
Volleyed finish
The pattern continued in the second half, Ali tipping over Benjamin Laurant's shot and pushing away Songo'o's effort after an inventive one-two with Menez. The Egypt goalkeeper was helpless in the 55th minute, however, Laurant's deflected shot looping into the air and leaving Benzema with a simple side-foot volley.
Benzema influence
France never looked like letting their lead slip, and both Benzema and substitute Elliot Grandin had chances to increase the lead. Benzema did find the target again 16 minutes from time, cutting in from the left and sliding a shot past Ali, and was also the architect of France's fourth goal with eleven minutes left, again bursting free on the left and squaring to leave Songo'o with a tap-in. Grandin had a shot blocked on the line, but France's victory had long been assured.
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