Match Report - Wales 4 - 2 France
20 Nov 2007
Players
| Wales |
|---|
| 1 |
Owain Fon Williams
|
| 2 |
Darcy Blake
|
| 3 |
Joe Jacobson
(c)
|
| 4 |
Aaron Ramsey
|
| 5 |
Mike Williams
|
| 7 |
Joe Allen
|
| 9 |
Sam Vokes
|
| 10 |
Ched Evans
|
| 11 |
Shaun MacDonald
|
| 12 |
Christian Ribeiro
|
| 15 |
Jack Collison
|
| 6 |
Marc Williams
|
| 8 |
Marc Bradley
|
| 14 |
Neil Taylor
|
| 16 |
Nicky Adams
|
| 17 |
Lloyd James
|
| 18 |
Simon Church
|
| 27 |
Rhys Taylor (GK)
|
| France |
|---|
| 1 |
Geoffrey Jourden (GK)
|
| 2 |
Mouhamadou Dabo
|
| 4 |
Younes Kaboul
(c)
|
| 5 |
Habib Bellaid
|
| 6 |
Dideier Digard
|
| 7 |
Mathieu Coutadeur
|
| 9 |
Sylvan Marveaux
|
| 9 |
Loic Remy
|
| 10 |
Issiar Dia
|
| 11 |
Yoan Gouffran
|
| 19 |
Charles N'Zogbia
|
| 12 |
Yassin Moutaouakil
|
| 13 |
Blaise Matuidi
|
| 14 |
Yoann Gourcuff
|
| 15 |
Julien Quercia
|
| 16 |
Stephane Ruffier (GK)
|
| 17 |
Dimitri Payet
|
| 18 |
Vincent Muratori
|
Substitutions
Goals
Penalty Shoot-out
Cards
Officials
Referee: Goran Spirkoski (FYR Macedonia)
Assistant referee 1: Petre Kodovski (FYR Macedonia)
Assistant referee 2: Dusko Miloseski (FYR Macedonia)
4th official: Marjan Markoski (FYR Macedonia)
Other information
Attendance: 564
Report: Brian Flynn's young side completed a memorable comeback as Wales Under 21 registered a superb victory over their French counterparts.
Man City striker Ched Evans notched a hat-trick and Mark Bradley also got on target to earn Wales their second win of the campaign and keep their qualifying hopes alive.
Evans had netted the opener just on the stroke of half-time only for two quick-fire French strikes to dent Welsh hopes.
But Evans then scored from the spot to level and Bradley netted with eight minutes to go before Evans added Wales' fourth with a penalty to mark an excellent win over a visiting side including Premiership regulars Charles N'Zogbia and Younes Kaboul.
Wales had threatened first when Swansea's Shaun MacDonald shot just wide with 11 minutes on the clock, but the talented French were quick to stamp their mark on the game.
With playmaker Mathieu Coutadeur causing problems from the heart of midfield, both Sylvan Marveaux and Yoan Gouffran were able to find their range with efforts from outside the box.
But the young hosts were able to settle and soon Wales could build some attacks of their own as they contained the French, with the impressive MacDonald, Evans and Sam Vokes all going close.
And it was Wales who were celebrating at the interval, Evans showing fantastic awareness to latch on to Habib Bellaid's hesitance on the edge of his area, intercepting the attempted back pass and cooly rounding keeper Geoffrey Jourden to tuck the ball home moments from the whistle.
Flynn's young side had to be on their toes after the restart as Mo Dabo's cross was met by Loic Remy at the far post, the Lyon starlet somehow managing to lose control and allow Wales to clear.
But the Dragons kept the pressure on their experienced opponents as Joe Allen curled a shot just wide nine minutes in to the second period.
Wales their own despite growing pressure, but eventually Les Bleus found a way through when Mike Williams was deemed to have fouled Gouffran by Macedonian official Goran Spirkoski and sub Gourcuff blasted the ball home from 12 yards on 72 minutes.
And five minutes later the visitors took the lead as sub Dimitri Payet curled home from the edge of the area to leave Wales looking at defeat after such a brave display.
But just two minutes later and they were given the chance to level, MacDonald's excellent wing play freeing Blake inside the box only for the Cardiff defender to be upended in the area and leave Evans able to convert from the spot.
And on 82 minutes Flynn's side completed the comeback as sub Bradley was first to react when Joe Jacobson's free-kick was only parried by Jourdren, before Evans sealed the win from the spot in injury time.
Karl Pedersen & Chris Wathan
