90.+12! France crowns crazy final phase against Georgia

The final point of a curious match: Thierno Barry celebrates his goal to make it 3-2. UEFA via Getty Images

There was little indication in the first 75 minutes that things would get so heated in Zilina. Although Georgia had won its first match against Poland and France had only drawn 0-0 with Portugal , Les Bleus entered the match as clear favorites – and largely lived up to that reputation. Coach Gerald Baticle's team rarely shone, but after 45 minutes, they held a well-deserved 1-0 lead: Striker Tel, who is reportedly leaving FC Bayern for Tottenham, gave France the lead with a penalty he won himself (35').

France didn't dominate at will after the break, but they conceded little and seemed to be in control throughout. Only the second goal eluded them, despite some very good chances, especially from key players Tel (52nd, 64th), but also Odobert (67th), and Abline (74th).

Despite a brief equalizing chance with a brilliant long-range shot from Abuashvili (56'), the French seemed to be in a good position, although their sloppiness was increasingly setting in. Abline lost the ball to Sigua deep in their own half, and Gordeziani immediately played a brilliant backheel to Abuashvili, and suddenly the score was 1-1 (76') – the start of a crazy final phase.

While Georgia gained courage, the French seemed completely lethargic after the equalizer: Abuashvili was able to cross unhindered, the advancing defender Sazonov sneaked behind Leipzig defender Lukeba and, completely unmarked, headed in Georgia's sensational 2-1 lead (84'). Only now did France – which would have been almost certainly eliminated had they lost – awaken from a nearly ten-minute slumber and push for the equalizer, which Lepenant finally scored with a low shot into the far corner (89').

But that wasn't nearly enough: The originally scheduled six minutes of stoppage time lasted a full twelve minutes due to the rapid pace of events. First, substitute Barry scored what appeared to be a 3-2 lead for France, but the goal was ruled out for offside after several minutes of VAR review (90+3). Then Gordeziani had a chance to put the underdogs back in front on a Georgian counterattack, but his shot went just wide (90+8).

Because Sazonov was injured in the final minutes and unable to continue, injury time dragged on, and Georgia had to finish the match with ten men. In the very last action of the game, Augsburg's Matsima played a final high ball into the Georgian penalty area to Lukeba, who fired the ball past the Georgian keeper before Barry finally pushed it over the line – the knockout for the underdog in the twelfth minute of injury time.