Malbranque on target as French reach final

France booked their place in the final of the Uefa European Under-21 Championship here last night, beating Switzerland 2-1.

Goals from Steed Malbranque, the Fulham midfielder, in the 62nd minute, and Olivier Sorlin nine minutes later, were enough to see off the hosts in front of a near-capacity 26,300 crowd at the Saint-Jakob Stadium. Switzerland played for the last 50 minutes with 10 men after their defender Stephan Keller was sent off for two yellow cards.

A one-two between Malbranque and Pegguy Luyindula caught the Swiss defence off guard for the first goal, the Fulham man juggling the ball front of goal before shooting past Nicolas Beney. Olivier Sorlin added the second from the left, firing across Beney.

Luyindula nearly scored twice, in the 50th and 90th minutes, but each time Beney deflected the shot off the inside of the post. The Swiss recovered from their initial timidity but were unable to find the net despite two near-misses in the second half.

As well as dismissing Keller, the Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez handed out six more yellow cards, three for each side.

Italy and the Czech Republic were due to meet in Zurich in the second semi later last night for a place in Tuesday's final.

Malbranque will have at least one new team-mate next season, after Fulham completed the signing of the Argentinian striker Facundo Sava on a four-year contract which will keep him at the club until summer 2006.

The 28-year-old moves to the west London club from the Argentinian side Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, whom he joined from Boca Juniors in 1997. Sava finished top scorer for his club last season with 12 goals as La Plata narrowly conceded the championship to River Plate. He also helped them qualify for the Libertadores Cup, South America's equivalent of the Champions' League.

"I am extremely happy to have come to England," he said. "The move is a big step for me."

Sava will officially become a Fulham player when he receives international clearance.