to move to 7-under. After a pair of pars, Lewis birdied No. 11. She spu

BRASILIA, Brazil - After being touted as one of the World Cups entertainers, it was a gritty performance which got France through to the quarterfinals in a 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Monday. Frances forward line had made headlines with eight goals in its opening two group games, but there was little flair on display in a hard-fought contest against the African champions. France needed a late header from midfielder Paul Pogba and an injury-time own goal from defender Joseph Yobo to overcome a robust Nigeria. The reward is a quarterfinal against Germany on Friday at Rio de Janeiros Maracana stadium, following the Germans 2-1 victory over Algeria. Pogbas goal in the 79th minute followed Nigerias best spell of the match and came soon after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had made a crucial save to deny Peter Odemwingie. "Were not the prettiest or the best, but we can do good things," France coach Didier Deschamps said after the game. "The deliverance came late. There was a lot of tension because we were up against a very athletic side and there were a lot of challenges." Nigeria, which had a goal ruled out for offside in the 19th minute after Emmanuel Emenike poked home Ahmed Musas cross from the left, wasted a lot of second-half possession. Four years ago, France crashed out of the group stage, shamed a nation by going on strike and was jeered by its own fans and lambasted by politicians in the fallout from an embarrassing tournament. Its very different situation now. "Im proud of my players because were coming back from very far. I think weve given a lot of pleasure back to our fans," Deschamps said. "I think there were 5,000 here and millions back home who will feel proud." Pogbas crucial goal came after Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had just made a superb save to tip over Karim Benzemas header. But he he flapped at the ball from the ensuing corner and Pogba pounced in the 79th minute for his first World Cup goal. That atoned for placing a volley too close to Enyeama in a scrappy first half. Scoring such a crucial goal will boost his confidence heading into the last eight game. "We have four days left to prepare for another battle," Deschamps said. Yobo, who announced his international retirement after the game, turned the ball into his own net in stoppage time under pressure from France substitute Antoine Griezmann. At the final whistle, Frances relieved players danced in front of their fans as dreams of a repeat run to the final — just like in 2006 — moved a step closer. "We had the whole country behind us," Pogba said. "Its one of the proudest moments of my life." France started slowly and finished strongly in the second round match. "Ive yet to see a team play well over the whole 90 minutes," Deschamps said. "Nigeria dropped off a bit and that allowed us to get on top." After Griezmann came on, Benzema finally came alive in the 70th, opening up the defence after a clever one-two with the France substitute. After Enyeama blocked Benzemas initial shot, his follow-up effort was hacked clear by Victor Moses. Video technology confirmed that the ball had not crossed the line. France failed to show the attacking flair of previous games, with Giroud skewing a shot wide early on. He also appeared to elbow John Obi Mikel in an off-the ball incident, having done the same in last weeks 0-0 draw with Ecuador after coming on as a second-half substitute. "The referee saw it and didnt even give him a warning. Not a yellow card, nothing," Mikel said. "The intention was there." Keshi was highly critical of American referee Mark Geigers handling of the game. "The ref is a human being, but a lot of mistakes were questionable," he said. "Giroud elbow, Pogba foot up ... he decides what happens on the field. Im not happy with the ref." Two chances were missed late in the half. Full-back Mathieu Debuchy smacked a shot wide and into the back of a steward, and Emenike saw his sharp drive from the edge of the area palmed away by Lloris. With Nigeria starting to dominate possession, Deschamps made a key change in the 62nd, taking Giroud off and bringing on Griezmann, freeing Benzema to play through the middle. Nigeria continued to push forward and centre half Laurent Kocielny cut out Musas dangerous cross from the right. But toward the end, it was all France as Griezmann boosted the attack. He almost made it 2-0 in the 85th that Enyeama tipped over brilliantly. Instead, it fell to Yobo to inadvertently add Frances second goal. ___ Lineups: France: Hugo Lloris; Mathieu Debuchy, Raphael Varane, Laurent Koscielny, Patrice Evra; Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi; Mathieu Valbuena (Moussa Sissoko, 94th), Olivier Giroud (Antoine Griezmann, 62nd), Karim Benzema. Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa; Ogenyi Onazi (Ruben Gabriel, 59th), John Obi Mikel; Ahmed Musa, Peter Odemwingie, Victor Moses (Uche Nwofor, 89th); Emmanuel Emenike. Justin Tucker Ravens Jersey .com) - Colorado may be ahead of the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference standings, but they are a club that the Avalanche may want to avoid in the playoffs. Mark Andrews Jersey .Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., led the Canadian team with three goals at the four-nation competition. She also earned tournament most valuable player honours.The Canadian captain scored on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and added the winning goal a minute later. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/Youth-trace-mcsorley-ravens-jersey/ .com) - The disappointing Ottawa Senators hope to record consecutive wins for the first time since early November, as they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home series. Iman Marshall Ravens Jersey .In a statement released Friday, the Catalan club said the Brazil stars recovery would be monitored to determine when he can begin training again. Jonathan Ogden Womens Jersey . Belfort was originally schedule to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 173 on May 24, but a Nevada State Athletic Commission ban on testosterone replacement therapy forced the former light heavyweight champ to withdraw.Ocala, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Ha Na Jang fired a 7-under 65 on Thursday and she jumped four strokes clear of the field with the second round of the season-opening Coates Golf Championship suspended by darkness. Jang, who qualified for the event on Saturday, completed 36 holes at 12-under- par 132. World No. 3 Stacy Lewis posted a 2-under 70 and she is alone in second place at minus-8 at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. Lydia Ko, the second-ranked player in the world, shot 3-under 69 to move into a share of third place. She was joined there by Azahara Munoz (71) as well as Angela Stanford and Austin Ernst, who were still on the course when play was called for the day. Stanford completed 14 holes of her second round, while Ernst was through 13. Jessica Korda, who shared the first-round lead with Lewis and Munoz, managed an even-par 72. Korda is tied for seventh place with Na Yeon Choi (70). The first round was completed earlier Thursday after being suspended by darkness on Wednesday evening. There was also a 90-minute frost delay on Thursday morning. The second round will resume on Friday at 7:30 a.m. ET. Jang played the back nine first in round two and she dropped in back-to-back birdie chances from the 11th. Birdies at 14 and 16 moved her into the lead at minus-9. Around the turn, Jang continued to roll as she birdied the second and fourth. Her lone stumble came at the par-3 sixth. Jang quickly erased that mistake as she birdied the par-5 seventhh.dddddddddddd Another birdie at the ninth left her four clear of the field. I think today my (approach) shots were better. I hit some very nice iron shots today, said Jang, who is ranked 21st in the world. Lewis got off to a slow start as she had five pars and a bogey through six holes. She caught fire in the middle part of her round. The reigning LPGA Tour Player of the year birdied the par-5 seventh and made it two in a row with another birdie at the eighth to move to 7-under. After a pair of pars, Lewis birdied No. 11. She spun her third at the par-5 12th within a few feet and she kicked that in for birdie. Her momentum was halted at the 13th. Lewis missed the green with her approach shot and that led to a bogey, which dropped her to minus-8. She wrapped up her round with five pars in a row to end there. We shot some 66s yesterday and I think thats a great score on this golf course. The greens are just so tricky, theres not a lot of hole locations on a couple of the greens, you have to hit it to the right spot, Lewis stated. You can make some bogeys and worse pretty quick. Its just staying patient. NOTES: Jang has six wins on the Korean LPGA Tour, which she has competed on for the last five years ... Paula Creamer, who is tied for 16th, had a hole- in-one on the par-3 sixth ... With world No. 1 Inbee Park tied for 45th after 36 holes, Lewis and Ko both have a chance to take over the top spot in the world rankings with a victory. ' ' '