France kept in the qualification hunt with a 2-0 victory over Holland
Soubeyrand seals win
By Berend Scholten. Monday, 15 May 2006.
Two goals from Sandrine Soubeyrand kept France in the hunt for FIFA Women's World Cup qualification with a 2-0 win in the Netherlands.
Despite being without suspended captain Sonia Bompastor, the visitors dominated from the off, and it took less than six minutes for Soubeyrand to give them the lead with a fine shot from outside the area.
Dutch goalkeeper Marleen Wissink made several impressive saves to prevent the scoreline getting out of hand, while defender Marloes de Boer was also in the wars, being forced off by a cut head and only returning in the second half with her head bandaged.
Although The Netherlands came into the game after the break, Soubeyrand put the result beyond doubt in the 62nd minute with a free-kick that fizzed past Wissink into the right corner.
The victory takes France to 13 points from six matches, three behind group leaders England, who must still travel to France. The Dutch stay third, seven points behind England.
"We conceded two frustrating goals from the fantastic play of Soubeyrand and could not create any danger of our own," said Netherlands coach Vera Pauw.
"With the injuries and fatigue in the squad we were not able to recover from the early setback. We still have a small chance of qualifying, and we will continue to go for it."
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