The Finnish women’s national football team Helmarit styled a 4–0 victory over Slovakia in the Nations League. The team’s sure grips exuded the joy of the game in the evening in Turku.
Riku Porvari,
Jussi Vainikka
The Finnish women’s national football team Helmarit beat Slovakia 4–0 in their opening match of the Nations League. Finland’s goals scored Linda Sällström, Jutta Rantala and twice hit Katariina Kosola.
Especially the attacking play in the first half was convincing, and Finland had little to worry about in its own defensive end.
– It was relatively easy to win, but Helmarit did really well. They exuded such joy in the game. They were confident on the field, used their strengths and knew what they were doing, Urheilu’s football expert Hanna Ruohomaa filmed in the studio.
Earlier this week, Rantala was tipped to succeed Sällström, Finland’s all-time leading scorer. Goalkeeper Sällström admitted that those words upset him.
– I said that I still have to set goals so that Jutta doesn’t pass right away. But he immediately scored himself, Sällström said after the match.
The 1–0 goal completed by Vittsjö striker Sällström was the 56th hit of his national team career. Rantala’s goal was the sixth.
According to Rantala, who plays in Leicester, the opening goal in the fifth minute of the match freed Finland’s game.
– We kept the ball well. Maybe we could have kept it a bit higher and tried longer attacks. I think we played a good clean sheet, which is important, Rantala estimates.
Kosola, who moved to Häcken, which is aiming for the Swedish premier league Damallsvenskan championship, in the summer, said that Finland played a balanced match.
– We took an important victory and created enough scoring chances. I think we were also quite effective in them. We were able to create scoring opportunities from the wing to the middle. In addition, the encouragement of the home crowd was transmitted to the field, Kosola described.
Urheilu’s football expert Essi Sainio stated that the Finnish team was well prepared and the players were relaxed, but not lazy.
– The distances between the players were good, the team knew what they were doing all the time and the roles were clear. If there were mistakes, they were corrected, Sainio summed up.
Sainio also praised Kosola, who got two goals as a reward for his good work on the field.
– Excellent performance. He did what he is really good at and didn’t do anything extra or unnecessary. He takes care of his grounds insanely well, and was really active both offensively and defensively.
Helmarit will also play another Nations League match in this international match window, when they face Romania in an away match on Tuesday 26.9. at 19. The match can be seen live on channels.