PARIS (AP) France defeated Argentina 3-2 on penalties under the lights of the Eiffel Tower for the gold medal in blind football on the penultimate day of the Paralympic Games.

Frederic Villeroux scored the decisive spot kick to get the partisan home fans party underway after the teams drew 1-1 in normal time on Saturday.

It felt like the script of a film, said Villeroux, who also made the breakthrough in the 12th minute when he rifled a shot inside the left post.

Argentine star forward Maximiliano Espinillo replied from close range straight away after the French defenders failed to clear the ball.

You have to take the good and accept the bad, but we are still very proud, Espinillo said.

France is the first team other than Brazil to win blind football at a Paralympics. Brazil won all five previous golds since it was first played at the 2004 Athens Games.