France 4-1 Belgium: Substitutes Dou, Cherki and Oles score late goals in a dramatic win G Trends

European Nations League,
League A – 4

Stade de France

Nick Walsh

Desiree Do 77′
Rayan Sharqi 81′
Michael Olise 88′
Michael Ollis 90+1′

Dodi Lukebakios 35′

France scored four late goals to shock Belgium with a 4-1 win in the group stage match Nations League At the Stade de France.

Dodi Lukebakio scored in the first half to put Belgium ahead and the visitors led for most of the match, but goals from substitutes Desiree Dou and Rayan Chergui completed the dramatic turnaround, before Michael Olise scored twice to put himself in the driving seat to win Group A4.

France ended the international period unbeaten with three wins and a draw, putting it at the top of the group, while Belgium fell to third place after suffering its second defeat against France within a week.

Belgium is making its mark

France started brightly at the Stade de France, with Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barkola causing trouble down the flanks as Les Bleus pressed for an early goal.

Barkula had the best chance when he crossed the ball on goal, but his effort was comfortably saved by Martin Vandevoordt.

Belgium gradually improved in the game, with Romelu Lukaku testing France goalkeeper Restis and Nicolas Raskin heading wide from Dodi Lukebakio’s dangerous cross.

Lukebakio then stunned the hosts in the 35th minute, receiving a brilliant pass from Lafia before firing past Restes to give Belgium a 1-0 lead.

France pushed for an equalizer before the end of the first half, but Belgium defended resolutely, as the visiting team took a deserved lead at the end of the first half.

France’s late comeback stuns Belgium

Dembele came agonizingly close to scoring early in the second half after his effort went wide of the post after Manu Kone’s initial effort was blocked.

Vandevoordt then made a huge save from Dembélé after the Paris Saint-Germain striker worked his magic by going in and out before handing the ball over to Esteban Leboulle, who was unable to beat the Belgian goalkeeper.

The introduction of Cherki and Olise sparked life into France’s attack, with the former producing a brilliant shot that led to an even better save on Vandevoordt’s shot as he cleared it wide at full speed.

Olise then did well to maneuver a chance for Barcola, but the Liverpool winger’s shot went wide of the post again as we approached the final 15 minutes.

Barkola was replaced by his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Du, and within minutes the substitute equalized for France with more than 10 minutes remaining, scoring with a stunning shot from 25 yards out.

Just four minutes later, France took a dramatic lead through Chergui, who superbly turned home Olise’s cross to score a stunning goal in the race to win Group A4.

The three points ended when the third substitute came on, with Olise latching onto Doe’s cross before slotting the ball into the net.

It was another Doue and Olise combination for fourth place, as France ran away with the result, holding off the hapless Vandevoordt to an emphatic victory.

Nations League standings