It had been an underwhelming display by France prior to Mbappe’s opener as Senegal created the better opportunities and were perhaps unfortunate not to break the deadlock in an impressive first-half display.
Nicolas Jackson went closest for the Senegal when he fired a great low shot against the base of the post – which rebounded off goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s foot and trickled narrowly wide of the upright. Ismaila Sarr had great chances but wasted them, he should have given Senegal the lead shortly before the half-time but failed to steer his close-range effort on target after connecting with Sadio Mane’s cross.
France, emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and were controversially denied a penalty when Mane appeared to catch Mbappe inside the box. The referee initially awarded a corner and was later deemed the correct call when VAR confirmed the decision not to be a penalty.
However, Mbappe broke Senegal’s resistance in the second half with a low strike at the 66th minutes before firing home a sensational long-range effort in the 96th minutes of the game. The Real Madrid forward’s second strike became his 58th goal for France – one clear of former record holder Olivier Giroud.
PSG’s Bradley Barcola had earlier put France 2-0 in the 82nd minutes up before Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back in the 95th minute of the match, but Mbappe’s second of the game ended Senegal’s hopes of a comeback.
