Finland cancel out Greece lead

• Finland come from behind for a draw which lifts them to four Group F points, Greece to one
• Nikos Karelis's fine finish puts Greece ahead at half-time
• Jarkko Hurme volleys an equaliser after Finland begin the second half brightly
• After the equaliser the teams cancel each other out
• Next games: Finland v Romania, Greece v Northern Ireland (Tuesday)

Finland came from behind to share the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group F points with Greece in Helsinki.

The hosts had won in the Faroe Islands last month – while Greece were losing at home to Romania – and looked lively from the off. As early as the second minute, Tim Sparv steered an Alexander Ring corner just past the post.

Greece soon recovered from that start and took a 24th-minute lead. Andreas Samaris picked up a loose ball and played a short backward pass which invited Nikos Karelis to send a powerful shot from 20 metres into the right-hand corner of the Finland goal.

The visitors were now in control and it took until half-time for Finland to regain their footing. Yet they began the second period brightly and within ten minutes were rewarded with an equaliser. Substitute Kasper Hämäläinen neatly flicked the ball into the path of full-back Jarkko Hurme, who volleyed superbly into the bottom-left corner

The Finns grew in confidence and promptly searched for a second goal. Yet for all that Greece were stunned by the leveller, they were soon able to steady themselves and the stalemate prevailed.