Teemu Pukki provided a dramatic 79th-minute equaliser as a stubborn Finland frustrated Spain in a 1-1 draw in Gijon.

Vicente del Bosque's troops had seized control just after half-time when captain Sergio Ramos marked his 100th cap for his country with a headed goal, but the lead was relinquished when Pukki provided the finish to a rare Finland counterattack.

The reigning world and European champions quickly found their stride and only Finland goalkeeper Niki Mäenpää at full stretch prevented Cesc Fabregas' deflected cross from finding the far corner after a neat team move. Spain nevertheless struggled to negotiate the congestion around the Finland goal and Mäenpää was able to deal with La Roja's efforts from distance with relative ease, parrying away low shots from Santi Cazorla and Andrés Iniesta.

Roman Eremenko briefly had home hearts in mouths when he drove a shot just over during a lone Finland attack, but the visitors' focus was on their clean sheet, which remained intact at the break. Ramos ensured that would not last long, however, leaping to head David Silva's looping corner inside the far post shortly after the restart.

Despite dominating proceedings with their snappy passes and sniping runs, Spain could not build on their lead. With Finland asking so few questions of their back line, the hosts took their foot off the throttle and 11 minutes from time they were punished. A swift counter down the left caught La Roja on their heels and Pukki beat Victor Valdés to Alexander Ring's inviting low centre to ensure Spain were held for the second time in four matches.

The holders slip to second in qualifying Group I, two points behind France, after Les Bleus beat Georgia 3-1.