Match ends, France 3, Honduras 0.
FranceFrance3HondurasHonduras0
Karim Benzema scored twice as France became the first team to benefit from goalline technology at a World Cup in their victory over 10-man Honduras.
The moment occurred in the 48th minute for France's second goal, when it ruled keeper Noel Valladares nudged Benzema's shot over the line.
The Real Madrid forward gave France the lead from the spot after Paul Pogba had been fouled by Wilson Palacios.
Benzema added a late third with a vicious strike from a tight angle.
The match will be remembered for that historic moment when the GoalControl tool was called into action.
Brazilian referee Sandro Meira Ricci awarded the goal straight away as Benzema's sidefoot effort came off the far post, rolled across the line, bounced off Valladares and appeared to fully cross the line before the keeper could claw the ball back into play.
At first the system ruled 'No Goal', causing confusion inside the Porto Alegre stadium when that message was displayed on the big screen.
But that was for the initial hit off the post. A second judgement then came on whether the ball crossed the line after coming off the Honduras keeper.
Despite the technology showing the ball had clearly crossed the line, Honduras players and coaching staff remonstrated with the officials. They were already down to 10 men following Palacios's red card for pushing over Pogba, and this was another bitter blow.
But they had little to complain about regarding the end result. France were brilliant, and should be rightly considered as strong contenders for the title.
They had already gone close before the penalty through Blaise Matuidi, when his shot was pushed over by Valladares, and through the exceptional Antoine Griezmann, whose header struck the bar.
That was despatched from the spot with confidence by Benzema, who battled hard for his team up front against a physical Honduras defence. For France's second, the post denied Benzema what would have been a hat-trick with goalkeeper Valladares being awarded the goal for his deflection.
There was no doubt about his third. Diminutive Mathieu Valbuena delivered an excellent free-kick from the right which found Griezmann. The 23-year-old Real Sociedad forward's low drive was blocked, but there was Benzema to blast the rebound into the roof of the net.
France can now seal their passage into the knockout round with victory over neighbours Switzerland, who earlier defeated Ecuador, in what promises to be an exciting clash at the 2014 Fifa World Cup on Friday.
Line-ups
France
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Lloris
- 2Debuchy
- 3EvraBooked at 7mins
- 6CabayeBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMavubaat 65'minutes
- 4Varane
- 5Sakho
- 19PogbaBooked at 28minsSubstituted forSissokoat 57'minutes
- 14Matuidi
- 10Benzema
- 8ValbuenaSubstituted forGiroudat 78'minutes
- 11Griezmann
Substitutes
- 7Cabella
- 9Giroud
- 12Mavuba
- 13Mangala
- 15Sagna
- 16Ruffier
- 17Digne
- 18Sissoko
- 20Remy
- 21Koscielny
- 22Schneiderlin
- 23Landreau
Honduras
Formation 4-4-2
- 18Valladares
- 21Beckeles
- 7Izaguirre
- 19GarridoBooked at 83mins
- 5BernárdezSubstituted forChávezat 45'minutes
- 3Figueroa
- 17NajarSubstituted forClarosat 58'minutes
- 8PalaciosBooked at 43mins
- 13Costly
- 11BengtsonSubstituted forGarcíaat 45'minutesBooked at 53mins
- 15Espinoza
Substitutes
- 1López
- 2Chávez
- 4Montes
- 6García
- 9Palacios
- 10Martínez
- 12Delgado
- 14García
- 16Martínez
- 20Claros
- 22Escober
- 23Chávez
- Referee:
- Sandro Meira Ricci
- Attendance:
- 43,012
Match Stats
Home TeamFranceAway TeamHonduras
- Possession
- Home71%
- Away29%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, France 3, Honduras 0.
Post update
Foul by Rio Mavuba (France).
Post update
Óscar García (Honduras) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Blaise Matuidi (France) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Post update
Foul by Mathieu Debuchy (France).
Post update
Maynor Figueroa (Honduras) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Antoine Griezmann (France) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrice Evra with a cross.
Post update
Olivier Giroud (France) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Brayan Beckeles (Honduras).
Post update
Corner, France. Conceded by Óscar García.
Booking
Luis Garrido (Honduras) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Blaise Matuidi (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Luis Garrido (Honduras).
Substitution
Substitution, France. Olivier Giroud replaces Mathieu Valbuena.
Post update
Corner, France. Conceded by Maynor Figueroa.
Post update
Attempt missed. Brayan Beckeles (Honduras) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Óscar García.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Patrice Evra (France) because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! France 3, Honduras 0. Karim Benzema (France) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the top right corner. Assisted by Patrice Evra following a set piece situation.
