The Finnish men’s national football team picked up its first points in the European Championship qualifiers when it claimed a 1–0 victory over Northern Ireland in Belfast.
The points did not come easily, as the Huuhkajat had to do a full night’s play on the uneven grass of Windsor Park to win.
Finland scored the opening goal of the match in the 28th minute. Robin Lod managed to center the ball towards the tight space Teemu Pukki, who, however, missed his touch. However, the ball ended up to Benjamin Källman, which stretched Finland to a 1–0 lead. For Källmann, who played his eleventh international match, the hit was already the fifth in Finland’s shirt.
Despite the lead goal, Huuhkajie’s performance left a lot to improve in the opening period. The game went quickly from end to end, and Huuhkaj had problems both with the opening of the game and with the structure of the attacks.
There were also challenges with defending the box, and the home team was close to the lead in the seventh minute. Fortunately for the squealers Nikolai Alho resolved a dangerous-looking situation. A little before the break, Northern Ireland had another great chance to score by Richard Jensen from a stray feed, but Lukas Hradecky maintained Finland’s lead with his wonderful foot save.
The problems continued in the second half
The challenges of the Huahkaji defense continued in the second half and the head coach Markku Kanerva reacts quickly. Matti Peltola ran onto the field in the A national match for the second time in his career and replaced Jensen, who played a difficult match, in the 52nd minute.
However, Finland’s problems continued and periods of ball control remained short. Huuhkajat was late in situations and lost almost every duel. Indeed, Northern Ireland came close to scoring twice during the first quarter of the second half: in the 56th minute Josh Magennis fortunately for Huuhkajien, he shot the ball quickly over the goal. Moments later, Northern Ireland even got the ball into Finland’s net from a corner, but the Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak saw the ball hit Dion Charles on.
At the 70th minute, Finland made two substitutions when Try Soiri replaced the one who recovered from the injury Anssi Suhonen and Marcus Forss having hurt his ankle Teemu Pukin. A few minutes later, Finland had a great chance to score from a free kick, when Charles made a stop against the rules Nikolai Alhon. Robert Ivanov got his leg By Robin Lodi between the excellent focus, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell stretched in front of the ball with the Northern Ireland goal.
Joel Pohjanpalo and Robert Taylor still got on the field for the last few minutes when they replaced Källman and Alho.
Towards the end of the game, Northern Ireland looked for a similar collapse as during the first quarter of the second period. The home team was given plenty of extra time to get the equalizer, no less than seven minutes.
However, Huuhkaji’s defense held out, and Finland’s 1–0 lead remained until the end.
“Not such a nice game”
Källman, who became the hero of the Huhkaji, admitted that the victory did not come easily in the Belfast night.
– We knew that the game was going to be difficult and that’s how the victory came through the fight in the end. But it’s all the tastier when it comes after such hard work. Quite a lot of meters had to be run, but it was known that the field is difficult and the opponent is a team against which you have to do a little extra. I’m an attacker who likes to work, Källman talked.
The 24-year-old Huuhkajat forward has scored in his last four international A matches, every time he has been in the opener.
– It feels like the goals have come at a pretty good pace when it’s in the opening. I hope there will be more!
Källman has answered that they hit together against Denmark by Oliver Antman with only two of Finland’s last six hits. Pukki has often served the hit.
Club team Cracovia Källman, however, has not managed to score since October.
– I don’t know, (what causes it), it can depend on many things. I believe that things will work here and I agreed to join the game. That’s how goals come. I hope it doesn’t depend on any luck, Källman chatted.
Huuhkajie’s midfielder Suhonen was on the same lines as Källman.
– Maybe it wasn’t the prettiest win, but three points at home is the most important thing. We had to try to win all the second balls that flew high and all the time it flew long… It was not such a nice game. This was a really important result for us. No matter where we are, we have to get the three points.
Head coach Markku Kanerva reacted coolly to the information that Huuhkaj’s victory was the first in history in a qualifying match at Windsor Park.
– I didn’t even know that. Come on, whatever. Nice win, Kanerva started.
– We knew that this would be quite a fighting game. Work ethic and will to fight were high. The team believed in themselves and worked hard. Today, one goal was enough to win.
The head coach admitted that the game was messy in the second period.
– It was known that Northern Ireland straightens the game and cultivates long balls. The guy kept his composure very well and we got out of the pressure. Today 1–0 was enough and the win is really important for the team mentally. I don’t know if the coach is ever satisfied, there are probably always areas for development, but also good things.
Finland came fourth, Slovenia leads the group
Finland’s group saw a huge surprise earlier on Sunday, when Kazakhstan won 3–2 against Denmark on their home field. Denmark lost its two-goal lead in the opening period and melted away at the very end of the match. The winning goal was scored by Vaihto who came in just a moment earlier Abbot Aimbetovwhich hit in the 89th minute.
With the win, Finland moved into fourth place in the group, ahead of Northern Ireland.
Slovenia, which beat San Marino 2–0 on Sunday, continues to be the only one with a clean sheet in second place in the group.
Sports expert Jonne Kunnas considered Denmark’s surprise victory a good thing even for Finland. Even after Thursday, Kunnas thought that it is better for Denmark to win everything and for Finland to clearly fight for second place in the group.
However, Kazakhstan’s surprise victory changed their minds.
– Two direct seats are up for grabs. Thursday’s meeting already gave indications that by doing certain things better, Denmark can be overthrown. Kazakhstan also succeeded in knocking out Denmark, so I lean towards the fact that this was a good thing for Finland. This opens up further opportunities to challenge Denmark, Kunnas saw.
Huuhkaji’s EC qualifying tournament continues in June in Helsinki. Finland will host on 16.6. Slovenia and three days later San Marino. The matches are shown on channels.