Kylian Mbappe adds two more to tally in storm-delayed win over Iraq
By Press Association Sport Staff
Kylian Mbappe scored twice on his 100th appearance for France as they beat Iraq 3-0 in a match delayed for more than two hours by bad weather.
Mbappe scored either side of the storm which delayed the second half to move alongside Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, behind only Lionel Messi who took the record to 18 with two goals against Austria on Monday.
Mbappe might have made a dream start with less than two minutes on the clock had Manu Kone’s cross from the right found the Real Madrid star at the far post.
An Ousmane Dembele effort was gathered under pressure by Iraqi keeper Ahmed Basil in the 13th minute, before inevitably it was Mbappe who broke the deadlock.
After being played in by a short pass from Olise, his drive from 20 yards brushed the fingertips of Basil before finding the back of the net.
France were in cruise control and it was only their seeming desire to set up Mbappe at every opportunity that denied them the chance to extend their lead.
Iraq’s hopes of clawing back into the match were hit when Aymen Hussein, their goalscorer in their opening 4-1 defeat to Norway, was forced off due to injury.
His replacement, Ali Al Hamadi, fired wide but France remained unruffled as the humid atmosphere was punctured by a dramatic rainstorm shortly before half-time.
The whistle sent both sides scurrying for cover with FIFA announcing that the match had entered “severe weather mode” due to the possibility of lightning strikes.
After a delay of two hours and 11 minutes from the half-time whistle, the players returned to restart with France continuing to dominate in possession and territory.
Mbappe was gifted his second goal – and fourth of the tournament – as Basil was unable to control an overhit pass from Ahmed Qasem, the ball running loose to Dembele who squared for Mbappe to stroke the ball home.
Quick feet from Mbappe provided a chance for Michael Olise who lifted the ball onto the crossbar, Basil saving from Dembele with Adrien Rabiot heading the rebound wide.
Dembele fired into the side netting but finally claimed his first World Cup goal seconds later, at his third tournament, steering the ball past Basil after being found by Olise’s through ball.
As France boss Didier Deschamps rang the changes, Iraq went close to pulling a goal back when Al Hamadi was unable to stretch far enough to turn the ball in at the far post.
Mbappe created one final chance for himself before being replaced in the 90th minute, picking the ball up near halfway before outpacing the defence, only to fire high and wide.
Deschamps said: “In the second half, we were completely in control, bearing in mind that it wasn’t straightforward given what had happened.
“But putting the result beyond doubt is a very good thing. We’ve qualified tonight, even though I’m convinced that the third (match against Norway) will be decisive for our final position in the group.”
Iraq coach Graham Arnold felt the delay made the occasion harder for the players.
“I think it’s the first time I experienced it in football as a coach or a player,” he said.