Finland’s under-21 national football team was stuck for a long time in an important EC qualifying victory against Switzerland. Casper Terho took Pikkuhuhkajat to the lead in the 72nd minute. However, Switzerland leveled in extra time when Luca Jaquez was able to continue Bradley Finkin focus on the goal. The match ended 1–1.
Before the last round, Romania has 19 points, Switzerland 18 and Finland 17. The winner of the group goes directly to the European Championships. The three best teams from the second group also qualify for the European Championships. The rest of the group runners-up will play a further qualification, from which three countries will advance to the games.
The matches Finland–Montenegro and Romania–Switzerland will be played next Tuesday. If Romania and Switzerland play a draw, Finland will be the group winner by beating Montenegro. In this case, Finland and Romania are tied, but Finland is ahead based on mutual matches.
By winning Montenegro’s Pikkuhuuhkajat, they will surely at least qualify for the next round, because then Finland will surely pass at least one of them, Switzerland or Romania.
Lehkosuo received a red card
Judged in the Switzerland match Alejandro Muniz Ruiz became the focus of the Finns.
The 33-year-old Spanish referee gave two possible red cards to the Swiss player without blowing the whistle and passed in an unclear situation – with Finland leading the game 1-0 – Finland’s head coach Mika Lehkosuo with a red card to the stands in the 90th minute of the match.
– Well, that was clarified after the game. I was told such information that the judge suspected that there was some kind of timing in that situation. There was quite a mess going on, and Swiss maintenance went to the field – as far as I understand, maybe without permission. The referee somehow interpreted that we wanted to play for time at that market meeting and that’s why he gave me the red, Lehkosuo said in amazement.
– This is what I was told through intermediaries. Of course, I’m not quite sure if that’s true, added the responsible pilot of Pikkuuahkajie.
Due to the mysterious red card, Lehkosuo will probably be banned from the official match in the home game against Montenegro in Tammela, Tampere.
– With these prospects, I think I’ll be suspended then, but we’ll figure it out, the coach thought right after the match in Lucerne.
“Especially the situation in Jukkola is a red spot”
In the first half, the Spanish referee did not give the Swiss captain a pass in the 19th minute Ardon to Jashar the second yellow card, even though he entered the situation ahead of the buttons, fouling a Finnish player worthy of a free kick.
Swiss defender Zachary Athekame came in the 85th minute of the match with a scythe like a karate kick, stirred up the situation and kicked the ball off target Oiva Jukkolaa straight to the head. For some reason, only a yellow card was given for the situation.
– Especially that kick to Jukkola’s head, at least when viewed from the bench, was a pretty clear spot of red. He got quite a cut on the back of his head or forehead and skull. There are traces of a piece, and there was no way Jukkola was very low with its head. In fact, Jukkola was still progressing through it a bit and the running speed was on, explained Lehkosuo.
– I haven’t seen it on video yet, but it looked like a clear red to me live. But it’s pointless for me, the coaching staff or the players to start thinking about it now. It has been and gone. We have to start the recovery, in three days there is an interesting game in Tammela.
Switzerland’s draw was a shame
Finland’s goal was handsome. Take the Glue passed to Casper Terho, who shot the ball into the net.
Of course, Switzerland’s last-minute equalizer left Lehkosuo upset. Switzerland gained pressure at the end and sent crosses to the Finnish goal.
– We are all saddened by the end. We changed to three toppers, we knew that balls would come to the goal at the end. We should have had better pressure on the ball so that the crosses would not have come so close to the box, Lehkosuo analyzed.
Lehkosuo emphasizes that the situation of the Pikkuuahkajie is still in their own hands.
– By beating Montenegro, we will certainly be in the further qualifiers in November, or with a possible draw between Romania and Switzerland, even directly in the Games. The qualifying continues to be interesting and exciting.
Pikkuhuhkajat has been in a good mood and from time to time took the match clearly even against Switzerland.
– I bet that Switzerland experienced the hardest game in these qualifiers in their own home arena
– The players have exuded a lot of self-confidence for a long time. It will be taken with us to Tammela. Montenegro is not an easy opponent, we won 2–1 away in the spring and scored the winning goal at the very end, Lehkosuo pointed out.
Finland meets Montenegro in Tampere, Tammela Stadium, on Tuesday 15 October. at 19. The match can be seen in Areena.