Finland stay in the frame

By Igor Panevski

Finland claimed three points in Skopje to keep alive their thin hopes of FIFA World Cup qualification.

Eremenko heroics
The visitors led 2-0 at the break thanks to two goals from Alexei Eremenko Jr. The midfield player opened the scoring after eight minutes when he outpaced the Macedonian defence to collect Teemu Tainio's through pass, before putting the ball past goalkeeper Filip Madzovski from 18 metres.

Pandev blow
The home side suffered a further setback on 32 minutes when Goran Pandev was forced off the pitch through injury and their misery was compounded on the stroke of half-time when Eremenko Jr. struck again with a free-kick from 17 metres.

Jääskeläinen save
Eremenko Jr almost claimed a hat-trick shortly after the break only to shoot wide from close range, and at the other end Macedonia were unlucky not to pull one back on 66 minutes when Goran Maznov's header from a Robert Popov corner was kept out by Jussi Jääskeläinen.

Roiha roar
Finland's third goal came three minutes from the end when another Tainio pass caused trouble in the Macedonian ranks and Paulus Roiha outpaced defender Goce Sedloski to slot past Madzovski and put the result beyond doubt.

Slim chance
The win keeps Finland in fourth place in Group 1, though they have now reduced the deficit on second-place Czech Republic to nine points, with 12 points still to play for. Macedonia are unable to qualify as they have collected just eight points from their ten matches played.