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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- France drew 0-0 with 10-man Ecuador to advance to the second round of the World Cup on Wednesday, while the South Americans will be going home from the tournament. Devin McCourty Womens Jersey . In the other final Group E game, Switzerland defeated 3-0 Honduras to finish in second place and join France in the knockout stages. Ecuador was down to 10 men short at Rios Maracana stadium after Antonio Valencia was shown a straight red card in the 50th minute for digging his studs into the leg of French defender Lucas Digne. But Ecuador may feel upset that France centre half Mamadou Sakho was not shown a red card in the eighth minute when he appeared to elbow Oswaldo Minda in the face during a France corner. Then, in a late incident off the ball, France forward Olivier Giroud jabbed his elbow in to Gabriel Achilier, who was standing behind him. France coach Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting lineup, knowing his side was all but assured of advancing. France came closest to scoring when Antoine Griezmann hit the post in the 47th and then missed a string of late chances as its much-vaunted attacked failed to live up to the hype generated by last Fridays 5-2 win against Switzerland. An inspired Ecuador went close in the 82nd when substitute midfielder Alex Ibarra broke down the right, cut inside centre half Raphael Varane, and saw his powerful strike beaten away by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Moments later, France striker Karim Benzema played a one-two with Giroud but stroked a casual shot that goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez easily saved. Dominguez had an outstanding match, denying substitute Loic Remy with a brilliant leaping save from the forwards curling shot in the 87th minute. Giroud should then have scored in injury time but planted a free header straight into Dominguezs hands. After France had hit the post, Ecuador almost took the lead in the 54th when Cristhian Noboa shot wide. Ecuador kept pushing forward, knowing it had to win because Switzerland was coasting. With more space, France pressured down both flanks and Benzema teed up Paul Pogba, whose shot was well blocked. Benzema was getting on the ball much more and he sent Blaise Matuidi through the middle in the 62nd, but the midfielder placed his shot too close to the goalkeeper. As time for Ecuador ran out, both sides went close. Pogba headed wide from close range and Benzema shot straight at Dominguez after cutting in from the left. Then, Edcuadors Michael Arroyo burst down the left but centre half Laurent Koscielny stood him up well and he shot wide. Pogba still had enough energy left to thump a powerful shot narrowly wide, while Ecuadors last chance came from a corner as France defended desperately to prevent an unexpected defeat. ------ Lineups: Ecuador: Alexander Dominguez; Jorge Guagua, Frickson Erazo; Juan Paredes, Cristhian Noboa (Felipe Caicedo, 89), Walter Ayovi, Oswaldo Minda, Antonio Valencia, Michael Arroyo (Gabriel Achilier, 82), Jefferson Montero (Alex Ibarra, 63); Enner Valencia. France: Hugo Lloris; Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho (Raphael Varane, 61), Laurent Koscielny, Lucas Digne; Paul Pogba, Morgan Schneiderlin, Blaise Matuidi (Olivier Giroud, 67); Antoine Griezmann (Loic Remy 79), Karim Benzema, Moussa Sissoko. Shane Vereen Patriots Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Tom Brady Patriots Jersey . The Eastern final, however, still rankles Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray.LONDON, Ont. - Ryan Rupert and Chris Tierney combined for five goals and nine points as the London Knights crushed the visiting Mississauga Steelheads 7-1 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Rupert scored three times and added an assist for the Knights (28-7-4) while Tierney had two goals and three assists. Brett Welychka and Matt Rupert had a goal and an assist apiece for London and Max Domi tacked on four assists. Dylan Smoskowitz scored the lone goal for the Steelheads (15-21-4), who dropped their third straight game. Jake Patterson made 25 saves for the Knights. Spencer Martin started in net for Mississauga, but was pulled after allowing six goals on 21 shots. Dawson Carty started the third period for the Steelheads and turned away 16-of-17 shots in relief. --- ATTACK 3 OTTERS 2 (OT) ERIE, Pa. -- Holden Cook scored 3:29 into overtime and Brandon Hope stopped 39 shots as Owen Sound hung on to edge the Otters. Daniel Milne and Thomas Schemitsch gave the Attack (20-13-6) a 2-0 lead while Cook tacked on an assist for a two-point night. Michael Curtis and Jake Evans responded for Erie (30-7-2) with goals in the third period. Devin Williams made 29 saves for the Otters. --- FRONTENACS 9 PETES 0 KINGSTON, Ont. -- Samuel Schutt scored three times and Matt Mahalak made 23 saves as the Frontenacs crushed Peterborough for their third straight victory. Slater Doggett scored once and set up two more for Kingston (22-12-4) and Evan McEneny, Loren Ulett and Spencer Watson each chipped in with three assists. Michael Moffat, Darcy Greenaway, Mack Lemmon, Corey Pawley and Sam Bennett also scored for the Frontenacs. Nelson Armstrong was a team-worst minus-6 for the Petes (16-20-4), who had their three-game win streak halted, while Andrew DAgostini and Michael Giugovaz combined to stop 41-of-50 shots in a losing cause. --- SPIRIT 3 ICEDOGS 2 (SO) SAGINAW, Mich. -- Jimmy Lodge scored the shootout winner as the Spirit slipped past Niagara to halt their six-game winless streak. Eric Locke and Terry Trafford also scored for Saginaw (17-17-5). Eric Ming and Johnny Corneil supplied the offence for the IceDogs (12-21-5). Nikita Serebryakov made 24 saves for the Spirit as Niagaras Brent Moran turned aside 26 shots in a losing cause. Ryan Allen Womens Jersey. --- STORM 5 GREYHOUNDS 3 GUELPH, Ont. -- The Storm scored three unanswered goals in the final six minutes of the third period to down Sault Ste. Marie. Scott Kosmachuck, Adam Craievich and Jason Dickinson scored in the third for the Storm (29-7-3), who extended their win streak to seven games, while Chadd Bauman and Steven Trojanovic added the others. Jared McCann, Darnell Nurse and Michael Bunting scored for the Greyhounds (26-9-5), who lost in regulation for the first time in eight games. Justin Nichols made 34 saves for Guelph. Matt Murray stopped 30 shots for Sault Ste. Marie. --- RANGERS 6 STING 5 KITCHENER, Ont. -- Justin Bailey scored twice and broke a 5-5 tie with just 24 seconds remaining in the third period as the Rangers handed Sarnia its fifth loss in a row. Nick Maygar scored once and set up three more for Kitchener (14-22-1) while Logan Schmidt, Brent Pedersen and Ryan MacInnis added a goal apiece. The Sting (12-23-4) got goals from Jimmy McDowell, Nickolas Latta, Patrick White, Davis Brown and Daniel Nikandrov. Jordan DeKort started in net for the Rangers but was pulled after giving up three goals on 12 shots. Matthew Greenfield replaced DeKort and made 18 saves in 42 minutes of relief. Taylor Dupuis made 45 saves for Sarnia. --- SPITFIRES 4 67S 1 OTTAWA -- Brady Vail had two goals and two assists as Windsor extended its win streak to five games by downing the 67s. Sam Povorozniouk and Remy Giftopoulos also scored for the Spitfires (25-12-1). Andrew Abou-Assaly scored the lone goal for Ottawa (12-21-4), which dropped its third straight contest. Alex Fotinos made 29 saves for Windsor as Philippe Trudeau stopped 34-of-38 shots for the 67s. --- WOLVES 2 GENERALS 0 SUDBURY, Ont -- Franky Palazzese turned away 40 shots as the Wolves blanked Oshawa. Palazzese was at his best in the third period when he turned away all 20 shots he faced to hold a one-goal lead. Nicholas Baptiste scored the eventual winner at 12:28 of the second period for Sudbury (21-10-6) and Nathan Pancel added an empty-netter late in the third. Daniel Altshuller turned away 13-of-14 shots for the Generals (26-11-3). ' ' ' |
