France indebted to Lemar for splendid leveller

A stunning goal from Thomas Lemar cancelled out Chiaber Chechelashvili's 30th-minute penalty to earn France back-to-back draws in UEFA European Under-17 Championship Group A.

Possession was plentiful for France early on, and both Anthony Martial and Hervin Ongenda went close as Jean-Claude Giuntini's charges sought to turn their time on the ball into chances. 

Les Bleus broke from midfield with regularity, the skilful Martial leading the charge, but the Georgia defence – in particular captain Nika Tchanturia – held firm. The omnipresent centre-back frustrated France time and again, no challenge better than his block of Jean Corentin's Martial-bound pass after France's No7 had ominously beaten the offside trap.

Then came the breakthrough. Davit Jikia raced on to a lofted ball forward and a clumsy challenge from the hastily retreating Franck Bambock resulted in a penalty. Up stepped Chechelashvili to roll in the opener.

A revved-up France sped from the blocks after the restart and were agonisingly close to a leveller within five minutes. Substitute Lemar burst down the left and fed Ongenda, who danced past a challenge and cracked a shot against the underside of the bar.

Determined Georgia fought back and only the reflexes of Mike Maignan prevented Giorgi Papunashvili from doubling their advantage with a fierce angled drive on 51 minutes.

Controlling possession and forcing a raft of corners, France were knocking on the door, and on 67 minutes it opened. A ball into the box was headed out and the lurking Lemar showed terrific technique to fire a first-time volleyed effort low into the bottom-right corner.

Wesley Said brought the best out of goalkeeper Aleksandre Adamia and Corentin volleyed over as Les Bleus hunted a winner, but they were forced to make do with a second successive stalemate.