The Globe and Mail

Chelsea winger Gael Kakuta set up Alexandre Lacazette for a late winning goal Friday as France rallied to beat Spain 2-1 to win the under-19 European Championship for the second time.

With five minutes remaining, Kakuta took the ball and spun around in midfield, dribbling past the two central defenders with sudden changes of direction. Kakuta's shot was saved by goalkeeper Alex, but he followed up and chipped the ball perfectly for Lacazette to head in at the far post.

Spain, which has won the tournament four times, took the lead in the 18th minute through striker Rodrigo before Gilles Sunu equalized for the French in the 49th after being expertly set up by forward Yannis Tafer.

France coach Francis Smerecki said his players were desperate to make up for losing to Spain in the Euro under-17 final two years ago.

“I have known some of these players for four years, and they really deserve to be champions of Europe,” Smerecki said. “They were really disappointed to lose the under-17 final two years ago. They really wanted to win tonight.”

Lacazette and Tafer play for Lyon and both came off the bench in the second half as Smerecki changed to a more attacking lineup.

“Once again we saw the importance of the substitute's bench, because both players who came on did really well. It's the victory of a whole squad,” Smerecki said. “To stop this Spanish team, you have to stop them getting the ball to their feet. That's what we managed to do after the break by being more aggressive.”

Spain looked totally in control in the first half with France unable to create a good scoring chance.

Having kept out Sergio Canales' earlier attempt, France goalkeeper Abdoulaye Diallo was beaten by Rodrigo's low strike from the left of the penalty area after he collected a pass from Daniel Pacheco.

Pacheco then hit a firm shot wide of the top left corner in the 34th as Spain dominated, with France unable to string passes together and giving the ball away cheaply by trying to play too quickly.

Moments before Sunu's goal, Spain should have made it 2-0 in the 48th.

Diallo failed to control defender Sebastien Faure's back pass and Canales stole the ball, forcing Diallo to dive at his feet.

But Spain was caught out a minute later when Diallo punted clear and Sunu beat defender Martin Montoya in the air and headed the ball down to Tafer, who had come on for Antoine Griezmann.

Collecting Sunu's headed pass, Tafer then put Sunu clean through and Sunu — who was loaned out by Premier League club Arsenal to second-tier side Derby last season — coolly chipped the ball over Alex.

Spain almost equalized shortly after when Marc Bartra burst through and his shot from a narrow angle was palmed away by Diallo.

Alex made a great save to deny Tafer in the 80th, beating away his shot with his right hand after Cedric Bakambu's pass released him down the left.

France previously won the tournament in 2005, while Spain's wins were in ‘02, ‘04, ‘06 and ‘07.