PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Karim Benzema scored twice and created a third that was confirmed by goal-line technology as France beat Honduras 3-0 Sunday in its first World Cup match. Josh Bynes Cardinals Jersey . The dominant win was a relief for France, whose team of highly paid players failed to win in South Africa and was sent home in a disgrace after going on a training strike. "Winning 3-0 at a World Cup isnt easy," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "(The players should) savour the moment, theres nothing more wonderful." France dominated the match from the opening whistle, despite a series of scrappy tackles by the Honduran team seeking its first World Cup win. Benzemas first goal came from the penalty spot just before halftime after Wilson Palacios was sent off with his second yellow card for charging into the back of Paul Pogba. The Real Madrid striker calmly slotted the ball to the left of Noel Valladares to give Les Bleus a deserved lead going into the break. With Honduras down to 10 men, France continued to dominate and Benzema created the second goal in the 48th minute -- the first to be confirmed by goal-line technology at the World Cup. Benzema latched onto a long ball by Yohan Cabaye and his shot hit the post and came back across goal before Valladares fumbled it over his own line. With the new technology system confirming the ball crossed the line, referee Sandro Ricci gave the own goal despite Honduran protests. Benzema scored his second in the 72nd, firing in powerfully from inside the area after a long range shot by right back Mathieu Debuchy was blocked. "Its my first World Cup and I think were all satisfied with the result," Benzema said. "It was important to win this match." French keeper Hugo Lloris didnt have to touch the ball until the 31 minute and didnt have to make a save all night. France looked dangerous from the start, with Blaise Matuidi and Antoine Griezmann both hitting the crossbar before the half-hour mark. The only downside for the French fans was that the teams national anthems werent played before the game because of an apparent malfunction -- meaning they didnt get a chance to sing "La Marseillaise." FIFA did not immediately give an explanation to why the anthems werent played. Justin Pugh Jersey . While coach Doc Rivers high-fived fans and pumped his fist at the crowd, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul quietly congratulated each other. Mason Cole Cardinals Jersey . The 7-foot-1 Hawes, who is in the final year of his contract, is averaging 13 points and 8.5 rebounds, both career highs, and shoots 40 per cent from 3-point range. The 25-year-old Hawes is in his seventh NBA season.NASHVILLE -- Undeterred by his scoring drought, Ryan Ellis just kept shooting and it paid off Tuesday night. Ellis ended a 42-game scoring drought by notching the first of Nashvilles three third-period goals and added an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Shea Weber scored in the first period, Craig Smith and Viktor Stalberg followed Ellis with goals in the third, and David Legwand had three assists to help Nashville snap a three-game losing streak. Lee Stempniak and Mikael Backlund scored for Calgary, which has lost four of its last five. Weber opened the scoring at 15:52 of the first period. With Nashville on a power play, Roman Josi sent a pass from above the right faceoff circle to Weber above the left, where he blasted a one-timer over the glove of Flames goaltender Karri Ramo. The Predators outshot Calgary 15-10 in the first. "We turned the puck over in the first period," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. "We kind of gave them the first period that we didnt want to give them. We had no intensity. If its not for Karri Ramo, we could have gone on the plane after the first period." The Predators entered Tuesday with the leagues seventh-ranked power play, but had not scored a goal on the man advantage in their last four games. A night after recording his first-career NHL shutout in Carolina, Ramo got the start Tuesday and made 30 saves. The Flames drew even with 1:04 remaining in the first. From behind the Nashville net, Jiri Hudler carried the puck just above the goal line on the left side and slid a pass to an unchecked Stempniak in the lower part of the right faceoff circle. His shot beat Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton for his seventh goal of the season. Stempniaks goal was his first since Dec. 7, a span of 17 games. "I thought I did a good job tonight of handling the puck and keeping the forecheck at bay," Hutton said. "I thought we had the edge in the first. I thought (Ramo) made a lot of good saves and for me, I wwas able to make a couple of saves and handle the puck and get in the game. Josh Bynes Jersey. " Hutton saw his first game action since a disappointing effort in Carolina on Jan. 5 that drew some criticism from Nashville coach Barry Trotz. He recovered nicely Tuesday night, making 22 saves. "That was a good bounce-back game for him," Trotz said. "I thought we did a really good job of containing Calgary for the most part, especially in the first two periods." Nashville went in front for good at 55 seconds of the third when Ellis carried the puck in on the left side, cut to the high slot and beat Ramo with a slap shot for his second goal of the season. "You just keep shooting, I think thats the biggest thing," Ellis said. "Our forwards did a good job of driving the net, and luckily it went in." Less than two minutes later, Smith gave Nashville a 3-1 lead on another Predators power play. Seth Jones slap shot from the centre of the blue line hit traffic in front of the Calgary net, and Smith dug the puck out and beat Ramo with a wrist shot to the glove side. Calgary though they had cut the Nashville lead at 4:17 of the third, but the officials ruled that Mark Giordano had played the puck to a teammate with a high stick. Stalberg put Nashville ahead 4-1 at 10:52 of the third when his redirection of Ellis shot got by Ramo, but Backlund made it a two-goal game at 13:07 with a nice move off the right half wall before beating Hutton on the stick side with a wrist shot. Backlund has a goal in each of his last three games. "Its nice for personal confidence," Backlund said. "Thats what everybody wants to do, and everybody tries to do. Im happy about it, but at the same time, if we dont win games, Im not satisfied." NOTES: Hudler had two assists in the game. He has assists in three consecutive games. ... Nashville is 17-2-4 when scoring first this season. ... The Predators concluded a five game home stand 2-2-1. . It was the first three-assist game for Legwand this season and the fourth of his career. 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