Finland savour flying start

By Kevin Ashby at Perutz stadium

Switzerland were left without a goalkeeper or any points after Linda Sällström came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick as Finland established early control of UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship Group A.

Straight red
The Swiss had used their three substitutes and were 3-1 in arrears when Gaëlle Thalmann received a straight red card for felling Sällström in the penalty area with three minutes remaining. Even though Elina Sormunen drilled the resulting spot-kick against the bar, there was still time for Sällström to complete a memorable cameo and Martina Moser to volley in Switzerland's second.

Bright start
Despite the lop-sided nature of the scoreline, Switzerland had been the more inventive and threatening side in the early stages, with the experienced Vanessa Bürki at the hub of their most promising attacks. Unfazed by passing by a decent opportunity to lob the advancing Tinja-Riikka Korpela, the forward outstripped Niina Hyvönen down the left only for her shot to lack the spark of the run which preceded it.

Sainio opener
From then on, Finland were able to establish midfield control and dictate both the pace and direction of play. Leena Maria Puranen and Taru Laihanen had both failed to hit the target from promising positions when the former lofted a 33rd-minute ball over the Switzerland defence which Essio Sainio read perfectly. Thalmann got caught between standing firm and advancing, freeing up crucial seconds for the midfielder to coolly place the ball into the corner of the net.

Maendly opportunities
The turning point came in the 54th minute as Sandy Maendly passed up two opportunities to draw Switzerland level, first seeing a fierce drive saved by Tinja-Riikka Korpela before firing the rebound high over the Finnish goalkeeper's bar. Jarmo Matikainen responded by introducing Sällström and the rest of this fixture in Papa was all about the player who only turned 17 earlier this month.

Slight hope
The forward doubled Finland's lead in the 63rd minute when reacting first to lash in the loose ball, and made it 3-0 soon after as Thalmann palmed away her first effort but was unable to repeat such heroics as the rebound whistled past her. To their credit, Swiss heads did not drop and Caroline Abbé gave them a glimmer of hope when scoring from a well-worked corner in the 76th minute.

Dramatic end
The goals were shared in a dramatic conclusion, and Finland will be full of confidence for Friday's game against a Hungary side that lost 2-0 to Germany. Switzerland must get something from their game against the world champions or see hopes of a semi-final place disappear once again.