Euro 2012: Clinical France see off Ukraine challenge

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://ht.ly/1kAATO

A torrential downpour just five minutes into the match forced referee Bjorn Kuipers to take the teams off the pitch, with crashes of thunder and flashes of lightning lighting up the sky above the Donbass Arena.

Play resumed 55 minutes later but the delay did not seem to affect France, who controlled proceedings without taking advantage.

Jeremy Menez's frustrating evening continued after the break when his clever diagonal right-to-left run produced another shooting opportunity, but he could not beat Pyatov from an increasingly narrowing angle.

Shevchenko and Tymoshchuk almost made him pay with long-range efforts, the former driving a shot just past the right-hand angle of Lloris' goal.

But the persevering Menez finally found a way through in the 53rd minute, skipping past right-back Yevhen Selin to squeeze a left-footed shot inside the post.

Less than four minutes later Cabaye doubled the lead from Benzema's pass into him at the top of the penalty area, before then being denied by a post from 18 yards after a prolonged passing move.

The victory was France's first in nine matches at major tournaments, ending a record run set with their opening draw against England.

With the 2-0 victory over Ukraine, France assume top spot in Euro 2012 Group D.