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Portugal national football team
International Friendlies
Sep 4, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
France national football team

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Valbuena (85')

Mathieu Valbuena finds late winner for France

Mathieu Valbuena scores the winner as France beat Portugal 1-0 at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

France dominated much of their international friendly with Portugal this evening, but had to rely on a late goal from Mathieu Valbuena to take their tally of consecutive wins against Cristiano Ronaldo's side to 10.

Substitute Antoine Griezmann, who had replaced Nabil Fekir after just 15 minutes, could have put his side ahead if he had beaten Portugal's goalkeeper Rui Patricio to an enticing Blaise Matuidi cross.

The lively Matuidi then fired straight at the feet of Patricio after a flowing French attack, before blazing an effort from a Bacary Sagna cross high over the top of goal.

Portugal's attacking threat was limited to the odd Ronaldo free kick, but the Real Madrid man failed to find his range and was kept quiet by a well-marshalled French backline.

France started the second half strongly and should have been ahead when Paul Pogba played in Griezmann, only for Patricio to rush off his line and thwart the danger.

Karim Benzema then collected a pass from Manchester United's Morgan Schneiderlin, but aimed his effort too close to Patricio.

The hosts' first chance of the second half didn't come until past the hour mark when Eder turned and blazed his shot over.

That was as good as it got for Fernando Santos's side, who were again close to conceding when Benzema's curling 30-yard free kick was pawed away by Patricio.

Just as it seemed that Portugal would hold on for a draw, however, substitute Valbuena stepped up to fire home a free kick and win the game for France.

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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) vies with France's midfielder Moussa Sissoko (C) and defender Bacary Sagna during the Euro 2016 friendly football match Portugal vs France at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on September 4, 2015.
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