France's Luck Beats Costa Rica 3-2
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique - Nicolas Anelka scored his first international goal in more than four years and Thierry Henry scored the game-winner to help rally France from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 victory over World Cup-bound Costa Rica on Wednesday.

Djibril Cisse also scored for France, which is unbeaten in 16 matches since coach Raymond Domenech replaced Jacques Santini in July 2004.

Alvaro Saborio and Danny Fonseca gave Costa Rica a 2-0 halftime lead before Anelka scored in the 49th minute to start Les Bleus' comeback.

Liverpool forward Cisse tied the game in the 80th, and Henry deflected a ball into the net with his heel off a corner from Jerome Rothen in the 87th minute for his 31st international goal in 74 appearances.

Henry's goal moved him past Just Fontaine and Jean-Pierre Papin among France's career scoring leaders and tied with David Trezeguet, who missed the match because of a sciatic nerve problem. Trezeguet is expected to play Saturday against Germany at Stade de France.

Anelka, who last appeared for France in April 2002 against Russia, last scored for the national team against
South Korea in May 2001.

Playing before a capacity crowd of 16,000 at the Caribbean island of Martinique's Stade Dillon, Anelka had two chances within the first seven minutes, failing to connect with Alou Diarra's flick from a corner, and running onto a ball from Lilian Thuram but putting a shot into Costa Rican keeper Jose Porras.

The Ticos beat the French in the 14th minute, sending a ball over the top that Saborio took and easily beat keeper Fabien Barthez.

Anelka hit the post in the 33rd after a pass from Lyon midfielder Florent Malouda, but Costa Rica doubled its lead in the 41st when Barthez completely missed a cross from the right and Fonseca headed it into the net.

The goal sparked chants of "Coupet, Coupet" from the crowd, referring to reserve goalkeeper Gregory Coupet of Lyon.

Porras preserved the 2-0 lead by stopping a header from Henry just before halftime, but Henry's cross four minutes after the start of the second half provided Anelka with a tap-in for his seventh goal for France in his 29th match.

Porras again thwarted France with a dramatic 73rd-minute save on a shot from Sidney Govou, but Cisse equalized by taking a ball from Vikash Dhorasoo on the edge of the area and curling a shot inside the post.