Soccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 Russia’s Denis Cheryshev in action with France’s Laurent Koscielny REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Paul Pogba scored one goal and set up another to inspire France to a 3-1 friendly win away against World Cup hosts Russia on Tuesday. Four days after losing to Colombia at home, Les Bleus bounced back with Pogba netting the second after the break having set up Kylian Mbappe for the first of his two goals just before the interval.
Russia reduced the arrears through Fyodor Smolov but were unable to upset a solid French team in St Petersburg, less than three months before the World Cup kicks off.
Mbappe sealed the win seven minutes from fulltime with his second goal of the night. Russia, who were humbled 3-0 by Brazil on Friday, did little to show they could go past the group phase at the World Cup after failing to make the knockouts in their last three appearances at major championships.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Laurent Koscielny and Hugo Lloris after the match REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
After lacking fight in their 3-2 defeat against Colombia, France coach Didier Deschamps made seven changes from the team who started at the Stade de France.
Russia had the first big chance of a dull first half in the 15th minute when Smolov’s shot from point-blank range was parried away by France keeper Hugo Loris.
France, however, went ahead five minutes before halftime when Mbappe collected a fine through ball from Pogba, dribbled past a defender and beat Russia keeper Andrey Lunyov with a low shot from just inside the box.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 Russia’s Fedor Smolov (not pictured) scores their first goal past France’s Hugo Lloris REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
The 19-year-old Mbappe became the youngest France player to score an away goal since Rene Gerard found the back of the net in Germany in 1933.
The visitors stepped up a gear in the second half and Pogba, who has had a disappointing campaign under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United this season, doubled the tally as he curled a free kick into the top corner in the 49th minute.
Second-half substitute Igor Smolnikov delivered a perfect cross for Smolov, who halved the deficit with a clinical half volley in the 68th minute.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 Russia’s Anton Zabolotny in action with France’s Paul Pogba and Laurent Koscielny REUTERS/Grigory Dukor
Mbappe, however, made sure of France's victory when he slalomed through the defence and beat Lunyov again with another low shot.
(Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal REUTERS/Grigory DukorSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Kylian Mbappe in action with Russia’s Vladimir Granat, Roman Neustadter and Igor Smolnikov REUTERS/Grigory DukorSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov gestures REUTERS/Anton VaganovSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Paul Pogba scores their second goal from a free kick REUTERS/Grigory DukorSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Olivier Giroud applauds their fans after the match REUTERS/Anton VaganovSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Paul Pogba in action with Russia’s Konstantin Rausch REUTERS/Grigory DukorSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 Russia’s Fedor Smolov celebrates with team mates after scoring their first goal REUTERS/Anton VaganovSoccer Football - International Friendly - Russia vs France - Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - March 27, 2018 France’s Paul Pogba scores their second goal from a free kick REUTERS/Grigory Dukor
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