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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>France beat Belgium 2-1</li><li>Kolo Muani bags brace in fine display</li><li>Tchouameni sent off &amp; Tielemans misses penalty</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Randal Kolo Muani, you beauty: France star bags brace in thrilling win over Belgium as William Saliba struggles and Aurelien Tchouameni sees red

<p>France held on for all three points after going down to 10 men late on in their highly-entertaining victory over Belgium, significantly boosting Les Bleus' hopes of reaching the Nations League quarter-finals.</p><p>Belgium's pace going forward caused France problems in the early exchanges and midway through the first half they earned a penalty when William Saliba clattered into Lois Openda. The Arsenal man was the most relieved person inside the King Baudouin Stadium as Youri Tielemans blazed the resulting spot-kick over the bar, and Randal Kolo Muani showed the Aston Villa midfielder how it's done when he scored a penalty for France moments later.</p><p>The hosts got back into the contest on the stroke of half-time when Openda evaded Saliba to steer home a cross from Timothy Castagne, but France restored their lead in the 62nd minute when Kolo Muani diverted a header beyond Koen Casteels for his second of the night. Aurelien Tchouameni made France sweat when he was sent off after picking up a second yellow card with 15 minutes to go, but Didier Deschamps' side held on for all three points to put themselves in a great position to reach the last eight.</p>

TELL ME MORE

<p>It's safe to say <strong>Kolo Muani</strong> has enjoyed this international break. He provided an assist in their 4-1 win against Israel last week and followed that up with a brace in Brussels. The Paris Saint-Germain striker never looked like missing his penalty and then won the game in the second half. No Mbappe, no problem for France.</p>

THE MVP

<p>Tielemans will be hurting over his missed penalty, which would have given Belgium a 1-0 lead at a time in the game where France were very unsettled. But this was an unconvincing display from <strong>Saliba</strong> at the heart of France's defence. His foul for Belgium's penalty was very clumsy and he lost track of Openda for the Red Devils' equaliser. Thankfully for the 23-year-old, Kolo Muani was on form at the other end of the pitch or else the scrutiny would have been even more intense.</p>

THE BIG LOSER

<p>France are now on nine points in Group A2 and have one foot in the quarter-finals. They take on Israel in their next meeting on October 14 while Belgium, on four points and needing a miracle, host group leaders Italy.</p>

WHAT COMES NEXT?

MATCH RATING (OUT OF FIVE): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Randal Kolo Muani, you beauty! France star bags brace in thrilling win over Belgium as William Saliba struggles and Aurelien Tchouameni sees red | Goal.com US

France are within touching distance of the Nations League quarter-finals after beating Belgium 2-1, with Randal Kolo Muani bagging a brace.