Finland find form as countdown begins
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ is just under one year away and hosts Finland stepped up their preparations with a 3-0 win and 1-1 draw in friendlies against Scotland.
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Welcome win
Finland were last in action in May with two home draws against Iceland, meaning they had played nine games in 2008 without a win. However, that run ended in their first meeting with Scotland in Pietarsaari. Essi Sainio struck on 41 minutes after a quickly-taken free-kick and late on Michelle Kerr turned Anna-Kaisa Rantanen's corner into her own net before substitute Nina Hietanen settled matters in injury time.
'Very pleased'
Home coach Michael Käld said: "Winning the first match was important and I was very pleased with that. I hope it will help us to be less tense. We have played against very strong teams and it was clearly something new to us when we controlled the match. In the second half we played much better." Scotland manager Anna Signeul added: "The result might not have gone in our favour, but there are a lot of positives that can be taken from the performance. We played some very good football, had lots of possession and created a lot of chances."
Second-half comeback
Both sides were changed markedly for the second game in Vaasa, and Scotland deservedly led at half-time through Kirsty McBride. However, a formation switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 got Finland back into the contest and with 15 minutes left Scotland conceded an equaliser with another own goal from Katri Nokso-Koivisto's corner. Käld, who led Finland to the 2005 semi-finals, reflected: "We lacked pace in the first half. The second half was again much better. Of course we want to maintain aspects of our play that already work well and at the same time work to improve things we can do better."
Scotland look forward
Finland have two friendlies with Wales organised in November though they hope for arrange another fixture late in October. Käld explained: "Playing Scotland and, in November, Wales, was something we really wanted. Meeting British teams will do us good. They play very aggressively and we must pass the ball quickly." Meanwhile Scotland can now focus on the crucial qualifying Group 5 visit of Slovakia on 28 September when they know victory in Perth should be enough to take them into the play-offs as one of the four best third-placed teams.