Delie double fires France to victory against Russia

Marie-Laure Delie struck twice as France recorded the first win at UEFA Women's EURO 2013 by sweeping aside Russia in their opening Group C appointment.

Following a run of four consecutive draws at Sweden 2013, Delie fired her impressively composed side into a 2-0 lead at the break in Norrkoping, and they never looked like letting it slip. Instead, Eugénie Le Sommer added her team's third with the only sore point for Les Bleues a late Elena Morozova goal.

Playing on the 15th anniversary of their male counterparts' 1998 FIFA World Cup win, France were briefly given pause by Morozova's counterattacking guile, but were not subdued for long. Having already gone close via Gaëtane Thiney's long-range effort, Bruno Bini's charges quickly began bearing down with menace on Elvira Todua's goal.

The Russia No1 was fortunate that a Camille Abily effort came to her with the sting drawn by a deflection, but there was nothing she could do to stop Delie breaking the deadlock. With 21 minutes gone, France's lone striker brushed past Alla Sidorovskaya and thumped a bouncing ball into the far corner.

The new Paris Saint-Germain FC forward did not have to wait long for her second either. Unmarked as she received Le Sommer's low cross, Delie calmly controlled and finished – prompting Russia coach Sergei Lavrentyev to haul off Valentina Savchenkova and Elena Medved for Yulia Gordeeva and Anastasia Pozdeeva. Despite the switches, his busy keeper had to bat away a Le Sommer header on the cusp of half-time.

France did not relax their grip on the game after the restart, though there was noticeably less urgency about them until Bini brought on Élodie Thomis for Delie. The speedy Olympique Lyonnais winger soon carved out an opening for Élise Bussaglia, who shot straight at Todua, before Thiney also tested the custodian.

That was Thiney's final contribution before Louisa Necib – fit again after a hip injury – entered the fray, though it was Thomis' pace that opened up Russia for France's third. Rushing to the byline, she cut the ball back for Le Sommer to slot in.

With that, Les Bleues were even more comfortable – so comfortable, in fact, that Wendie Renard switched off and allowed Morozova to side-foot in with six minutes left.

Player of the match: Eugénie Le Sommer