(UPI) -- France became the first team in European history to turn around a two goal deficit in a playoff leg and qualify for the World Cup. After losing 0-2 in Ukraine, the French needed a massive win at home Tuesday night and they didn't fail to disappoint.
Mamadou Sakho opened the scoring in the first half before Karim Benzema added a second soon after. The second half was more tense as Ukraine had a man red carded and sent off early on. France pushed late on and Sakho scored his second, an unusual feat for the central defender, to give France the needed goal difference to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil.
"It's beautiful, amazing, we realised something extraordinary," star French attacker Franck Ribery told TF1. "The fans have been with us. We suffered so much sorrow, and this is great, beautiful."
