France 2-1 Romania: Euro 2016 opening game

 

France's Dimitri Payet celebrates after scoring a briliant goal in the 89th minute during the France vs Romania EURO 2016 Group A soccer match in France on June 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - French winger Dimitri Payat scored a brilliant goal in the 89th minute to gift the hosts a 2-1 win over Romania in the UEFA EURO 2016 opener here on Friday night.

As all the French fans looked upset by a 1-1 tie, Payet took a pass from N'Golo Kante, shifted the ball onto his left foot and unleashed a stunning long shot which found the top left corner to give France a last-gasp lead and the final win.

In the first five minutes of the game, Romania had four shots, including a goalmouth tap by winger Bogdan Stancu on a corner kick. But French goalie Hugo Lloris incredibly denied the shot on the goal line.

From then on, French stars found their pace, showing their advantages in skills and tactics, but had little luck in the first half. Strikers Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud created and then squandered a number of scoring chances.

The host broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Payet delivered a cross from the right, which was met by Giroud who rose well to beat Romanian keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu in the air before nodding into the unguarded net.

It was the first goal of EURO 2016 and Giroud proved his efficiency with eight goals in eight games for France.

However, Stancu equalised eight minutes later from the spot, finding the bottom right corner and leaving Lloris rooted to the spot. That was Stancu's 10th goal for Romania and his first from the spot.