Finland reached a huge draw against Norway in Turku. With a 1-1 tie in the last moments, Finland kept the chances of a direct spot in next summer’s European Championship in Switzerland.
Finland made an unimaginable rise against Norway in Turku.
Norway led the match for practically 90 minutes, but Emma Koivisto tied the match after eight minutes of second-half overtime had been played. The 1–1 draw kept Finland’s dreams of a direct European Championship spot alive for next summer’s Swiss Games.
– It feels like my head is completely empty. I felt like I couldn’t even come to this interview, Koivisto shared his feelings in an interview with after the match.
Finland built the equalizer with a chain of many passes. In the end, he gave Koivisto an accurate through pass Heidi Kollanen.
The head coach Marko Saloranta praised Finland’s ability to rise from a losing position at home.
– Three times now we have been at home with a goal down and have always dug ourselves into the game, Saloranta said in an interview with .
At the same time, however, he admitted that the beginning of the match was really difficult for Finland.
– Our attacks broke off immediately and there were a lot of special situations to defend and a special situation goal, Saloranta analyzed.
Norway took the lead Guro Reiten’s with a goal already in the seventh minute of the game. Norway missed a couple of great goals in the match, which gave Finland a chance to gain points.
The first half was quiet from Finland, especially in the attacking direction, and the team was unable to create scoring opportunities. In the second half, Finland improved and For Linda Sällström and opportunities opened up for Koivisto to raise Helmarit to the next level. Finishing neither of them brought the desired result.
Still at the end of the match, Finland put a lot of pressure on Norway’s goal, which eventually resulted in an equalizing goal. Finland built a wonderful attack, which Koivisto ended with a beautiful finish.
Finland will play on 16.7. on Tuesday against Italy away from home. In that match, it will be decided whether Finland advances directly to the European Championships. Finland has five points before the last round of matches.
Opening half in Norway’s command
After Reiten’s opening goal, Norway was able to control the game, even though it did not create top goal chances until the end of the half. The away team defended closely and Helmarit could not advance to dangerous goal posts. The promising beginnings of the home team’s attack did not materialize into shots or positions.
– When we got to the attacking end, it was as if the ball was given to Norway. Low-quality passes or low-quality crosses were given, ‘s expert Hanna Ruohomaa filmed in the studio at halftime.
Instead, Norway was able to build two top positions by the end of the half. First Caroline Graham Hansen built an open position with a great individual performance Frizzle to Sævikbut the striker smashed his shot over the goal.
Moments later, Reiten, who scored the opening goal from Sævik’s pass, also shot over him from a great position. However, Norway did not succeed, so Finland remained in the game.
Finland controlled the ball more than Norway in the opening half, but Norway’s control of the game without the ball shows that Helmarit did not create a single dangerous scoring opportunity.
After the break, an inspired Finland arrived on the field, which was finally rewarded with an equalizing goal.
will show Helmareite’s last EC qualifying group match against Italy live on July 16. on Tuesday. The match starts at 20:00.