France came from a goal down to beat Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France on Monday, as three second-half substitutes turned the UEFA Nations League tie around.
Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise came off the bench around the hour mark. Between them they scored all four of France’s goals.
Belgium strike first
Dodi Lukebakio put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute. Belgium defended in an organised way and held that lead well into the second half, despite France dominating possession.
Debutant goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt kept France out with several key saves, including a one-handed stop to deny Cherki.
Bench changes the game
Doué levelled in the 78th minute. He spun away from a defender at the edge of the area and placed a precise shot into the bottom corner past Vandevoordt.
Three minutes later Cherki put France in front, converting after a pull-back from Olise on the right.
Olise then scored twice himself. He stretched to poke home the third in the 89th minute despite pressure from Nicolas Raskin, and added the fourth deep into stoppage time, slotting in from Doué’s through ball.
Belgium created little after the break and could have conceded more as France’s substitutes ran at their back line.
Second-half habit
All of France’s last 14 goals have come after the interval, a streak this win extended.
The result keeps France top of Group A1 under coach Zinedine Zidane. Belgium remain close behind.
