Sadik strike accounts for Sweden

Finland 1-0 Sweden
A solitary goal from Berat Sadik earned Finland a narrow victory at the expense of their fellow UEFA European Under-21 Championship finalists in La Manga, Spain.

Missed penalty
Sadik, who has two senior caps, put Finland ahead on the hour with a low shot, 15 minutes before Mehmet Hetemaj missed a penalty for Markku Kanerva's side. Sweden, who are hosting this summer's finals, pushed their opponents back in the closing stages but were unable to penetrate the Finland rearguard.

Sadik strike
In a first half of few chances, Juha Hakola spurned Finland's best when, ten minutes before the interval, he shot wide of the far post after combining with Jussi Vasara. Sweden threatened briefly after the break but it was Finland who edged ahead when Sadik collected Tomi Petrescu's pass on the edge of the penalty area, turned sharply and fired a shot into the bottom corner. With 15 minutes remaining, Finland defender Joni Aho was fouled in the penalty area and, faced with the chance of doubling his team's lead, Hetemaj struck the post with his spot-kick.

'Solid performance'
Eager to make use of their reprieve and salvage a draw, Sweden started to gain a measure of control and would have grabbed an equaliser but for Finland goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola keeping out a free-kick from Pierre Bengtsson late on. "I am pleased, not only with the result but also with how we played today; it was a solid performance," said Kanerva.