France (6) v (5) Romania

FRANCE piled on six straight goals to win their opening game in the 2008 Homeless World Cup and leave Romania heartbroken again.

The Romanians lost 5-3 in their tournament opener against Hong Kong on Monday, and on Melbourne pitch today led 3-0 and missed several penalties.

International referee Kim Nielsen served as linesman for this group A match, which Romania began playing enterprising football at a frenetic pace.Claudili Lucian Kostity hit the bar with a penalty in the opening minute, but made no mistake in a lovely exchange with Radu Gabriel Muntean for the game's first goal.

Radu inked his own name on the scoresheet shortly afterwards, mopping up a parry by the French keeper. And the Romanians were three goals clear when Pavel Josif Calancea weaved brilliantly through a pack of French defenders.

Romania was playing a physical brand of football but France refused to be rattled – returning the favour as Hardy Bangura crunched into Radu, forcing the Romanian striker from the pitch. Bangura stabbed home from just outside the Romanian penalty area to pull one back for the French, and then on the stroke of half time Karim Bentaleb scored another, and then brilliantly equalised, pouncing for an opportunistic goal as the ball was returned into play.With Radu off, the French began the second half with all the momentum. France's Benjamin rifled home brilliantly from within his own half, before Bangura won a penalty and made it 5-3

By Matthew Price

Photos: Photoworx