Soccer-Benzema puts France 1-0 ahead against Honduras at halftime

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil, June 15 (Reuters) - A 45th-minute Karim Benzema penalty gave France a 1-0 lead over Honduras in their World Cup Group E match on Sunday at the end of a bruising first half in which Wilson Palacios of Honduras was sent off. France dominated the half and almost took the lead in the 15th minute when a shot by Blaise Matuidi was tipped on to the crossbar by Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Les Bleus rattled the crossbar again in the 23rd minute from a header by Antoine Griezmann. (Reporting by Nigel Hunt, editing by Ed Osmond)