Huuhkajat cemented their easy qualifying victory in the first half Glen Kamaran and by Benjamin Källman with full hits. The final numbers to 6–0 were sealed by the super substitute with his first international goals and an incredible hat-trick in less than a quarter of an hour Daniel Håkans mixed Teemu Pukki.
The head coach Markku Kanerva was completely happy with Håkans’ successes and the support of Huuhkajie’s supporters.
– A very classy entrance from Daniel. Hat trick in the second match! Can’t ask for much more. It’s amazing to have a full house and San Marino opposite. The sweetest thing was that we were able to give the audience what they were looking for here, Kanerva beamed.
Glen Kamara and Rasmus Schuller saw San Marino’s defense to a dead end in the penalty area, as a result of which Kamara was able to shoot the opening goal that helped the Huuhkajis in the 16th minute.
The national team hit was the second of Kamara’s career, the first came in October 2018 against Greece.
Schüller, who set up the opening goal, was close to his first goal of his national team career in the 34th minute, but the midfielder’s long shot hit the post.
Joel Pohjanpalo passed the spot to Schüller and four minutes later was starting a spot with his wall pass as well Anssi Suhonenwhose shot was saved by the San Marino goalkeeper with a parade save.
Benjamin Källman was able to score a 2–0 goal from a corner kick in the 39th minute of the match. You provided excellent focus on the situation Robert Ivanov from the left side.
Part of Finnish coaching Mika Nurmela is satisfied with Finland’s concentration against a clearly weaker opponent. Attempts to score were scored for the home team 12–1.
– These are difficult games when the opponent retreats deep right from the first minute. Scoring is challenging in a game like this, but we got two goals, which is fine, commented Nurmela on the first half.
Hattrick Håkans celebrated to the rhythm of the Cha Cha Cha
Kamara continued in the second half from where it left off. The midfielder, who was benched in the previous match, offered Pohjanpalo a top spot, but the top-of-the-line striker was a bit too early, and the San Marino defender had time to get in the way of a shot in the 55th minute.
A surprise substitute stole the show after that. Entered the game at the hour mark Daniel Håkans smelled a foul, sneaked through after a misdirection by the opponent, and made no mistake in finishing the first international goal in the 65th minute.
Earlier this spring, Håkans made headlines in Norway when he wore a Vålerenga shirt to the tune of Cha Cha Cha. Even now, Håkans aired a memorable hit to the beat of Käärijä’s hit song.
– I did the Käärjiä ventilation in Vålerenga when I was talking with the team’s spiritual coach. He said that Finland should have won Eurovision. We joked that I could do a dance if I scored a goal. I had to do it today too, when Stadikka is full, Håkans laughed.
The ketchup bottle opened properly with one throw. After that, Håkans scored 4–0 and 5–0 goals for Huuhkaj. He scored the additional goals needed for the hat trick in the 72nd and 75th minutes.
– For the first time in the A national team. I’m not sure. I’m just so happy and proud, says Håkans.
Håkans made his senior national team debut for Slovenia after coming on as a substitute and playing 25 minutes at the end of the match on Friday.
Replacement man Teemu Pukki completed the final numbers for Huuhkaji to 6–0. At the same time, Pukki became Finland’s player with the most qualifying goals of all time (European Championship and World Cup qualifiers), leaving behind him the previous leader Mikael Forssell. Puki has a total of 21 complete hits in the qualifiers.
Håkans, the hero of the night, kept up the pace until the end and provided a goal To Robert Taylor. The man from Inter Miami hit the post in the 85th minute of the match. The scoring attempts were recorded in the match for Finland 26–4.
The last time a Finnish men’s national team player did a hat trick was 13 years ago. Even then it was San Marino. Mikael Forssell scored three goals when Finland defeated San Marino 8–0 in November 2010 in the European Championship qualifiers.
Huuhkajat enjoyed, like Friday’s Slovenia game, the popular shouting storm of the packed Olympic Stadium with 32,812 spectators. When San Marino visited Helsinki in 1994, there were more than 3,100 pairs of eyes. A great indication of the rise of football culture.
BLOCK H, HELSINKI
Finland – San Marino 6–0 (2–0)
1–0 Kamara 16.
2–0 Källman 39.
3–0 Håkans 65.
4–0 Håkans 72.
5–0 Håkans 74.
6–0 Pukki 76.
Finnish crew:
1-Hradecky (c)
18-Uronen -> 46. Halibut
4- Ivanov
15-Thomas
17-Alho
16-Suhonen
11-Schüller -> 60. Taylor
6-Chamber
8-Antman -> 60. Håkans
9-Källman
20-Pohjanpalo -> 60. Buck
Other H-group matches on Monday 19 June:
Northern Ireland – Kazakhstan 0-1 (0-0)
0–1 Aimbetov 88.
Slovenia – Denmark 1-1 (1-1)
1–0 Sporar 25.
1–1 Höjlund 42.
The Huhkaki’s following European Championship qualifiers:
7.9. Kazakhstan – Finland at 17:00
10.9. Finland – Denmark at 19:00
All of Huahkaji’s EC qualifying games here