Karim, computer ref give France win

Karim Benzema scored twice as France beat 10-man Honduras 3-0 in a bruising World Cup clash on Sunday in which goal-line technology decided a goal in international competition for the first time. Karim, the 26-year-old Real Madrid striker, produced an emphatic display in a victory marked by the use of the computer-generated 3-D images to decide whether the ball had crossed the line. Three minutes into the second half, the GoalControl system was called into action when a Karim volley hurtled off a post. The ball flew across the face of the goal, hitting Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares and crossing the line before he could scoop it away to safety. Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci saw a 'GOAL' message flash up on his watch and ruled it was an own goal by Valladares. 'I shot and the ball hit the post and then the goalkeeper,' said Karim. 'I saw that the ball crossed the line. I don't know if having technology like this is good for football but the most important thing was that we have won,' he added. French football team boss Didier Deschamps expressed concern at the confusion in the stadium when replays on the giant screen first showed Karim's initial shot had not gone in before confirming the ball had crossed the line after hitting Valladares' hand. Deschamps said GoalControl was a 'good solution' but ‘the image shown must be the one that justifies the decision of the referee.' Karim opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Wilson Palacios was sent off for two yellow cards both involving tussles with France's Paul Pogba. And the Real Madrid striker rounded off a fine afternoon with a narrow angle shot 18 minutes from time, according to AFP.