Postpublished at 21:29 British Summer Time 10 October
Finland 1-1 Republic of Ireland
Jason Knight fouls Robin Lod and it's in a decent position for Finland...
Robbie Brady fired home an 88th-minute winner as the Republic of Ireland picked up their first victory under Heimir Hallgrimsson with a 2-1 win in Finland.
Finland were gifted a first-half opener when Irish captain Nathan Collins underhit a back pass, which allowed Joel Pohjanpalo to race through and slot past Caoimhin Kelleher.
However, it was a much-improved performance in the second half and Liam Scales headed home Brady's free-kick just shy of the hour mark to score the first goal of the Hallgrimsson era.
There was late drama to come when Brady was on hand to rifle Festy Ebosele's cross into the roof of the net to score a goal that could ignite Hallgrimsson's tenure as manager.
The win is only the third in their past 14 competitive matches, but it could be a crucial three points after two morale-damaging defeats to open their Nations League campaign.
There had been calls for players to step up and end the poor run of form, and Brady answered that call with an assist and superb winner in Helsinki.
Both sides had lost their opening Nations League matches without scoring a goal, and the early stages showcased two sides who are struggling for form and confidence.
Finnish defender Leo Walta had a shot held by Kelleher, who is set for an extended run in Liverpool's team following Alisson's recent injury, but the Irish goalkeeper was helpless to keep out the opener after Collins' error.
It was a self-inflicted blow for the Republic who, to their credit, almost mustered an immediate response.
After Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz was fouled out wide, Collins headed the deep free-kick back across goal and Evan Ferguson was on hand to touch the ball home. However, the whistle immediately blew and referee Aleksandar Stavrev judged that Collins had not kept the ball in play.
Pohjanpalo had a weak effort on target but it was a strong end to the half for the Republic.
The lively Azaz fired a low effort on target, and Collins was involved again as he almost got on the end of a scuffed effort by Ferguson, but Hradecky was alert to sense the danger.
Moments later Ferguson, searching for his first international goal in a year, forced Hradecky into a save from a narrow angle but the hosts held on to lead into the interval.
The Irish picked up where they left off as Jason Knight drilled in a low effort that was easily held by Hradecky.
Ferguson showed superb feet to jink into the area but Rasmus Schuller nipped for a crucial intervention, and, from the resulting corner, Sammie Szmodics' flicked effort forced Bayern Leverkusen keeper Hradecky into another smart save.
They got their deserved equaliser when Brady's free-kick was well met by Scales, whose header flew into the corner of the net.
With the momentum in their favour, Ferguson fired low at Hradecky, but despite all the Irish pressure Finland should have taken the lead when the ball broke to Glen Kamara on the edge of the area but he went for power and it flew wide.
The in-form Troy Parrott, who has eight goals in 10 games for AZ Alkmaar, was introduced in place of Ferguson, but it was Finland who had another gilt-edged chance when Tomas Galvez dragged an effort wide from inside the area.
Finland could have snatched the game when Benjamin Kallman's header grazed the post with Kelleher stranded.
But the decisive moment came a minute later when substitute Ebosele danced his way through Galvez and Teemu Pukki before playing a brilliant cross to Brady at the back post, and the left back made no mistake to fire home.
It could have been even better in injury time when Parrott's effort was batted away by Hradecky and Adam Idah's follow up was straight at the goalkeeper.
It was the first time the Republic had come from behind to win a competitive match in 11 years, and they will look to make it back-to-back victories against Greece on Sunday.
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| |
2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| |
4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| |
2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | Israel | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
| |
4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| |
4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| |
2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| |
3 | Azerbaijan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
|
4 | Estonia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| |
2 | Kosovo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
|
3 | Cyprus | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
|
4 | Lithuania | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Belarus | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
|
2 | Bulgaria | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
4 | Luxembourg | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| |
2 | Armenia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
|
3 | Latvia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 3 |
|
4 | Faroe Islands | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gibraltar | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|
2 | San Marino | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
|
3 | Liechtenstein | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Moldova | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
|
2 | Malta | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
|
3 | Andorra | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| |
2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| |
4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| |
2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | -7 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| |
4 | Montenegro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
Manager: Markku Kanerva
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Markku Kanerva
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
UEFA Nations League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
After failing to win any of their first five meetings with the Republic of Ireland between 1949 and 2002 (D2 L3), Finland have since won back-to-back games against the Boys in Green, both 1-0 in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League.
This will be Republic of Ireland’s third ever away game against Finland, winning 3-0 in August 2002 under Mick McCarthy before losing 0-1 in October 2020 under Stephen Kenny.
Finland have won both of their last two home games in all competitions (4-0 v Northern Ireland, 2-1 v Estonia) and could win three in a row for the first time since seven such straight victories between November 2017 and September 2019.
Republic of Ireland are winless in all eight of their previous away games in the UEFA Nations League (D3 L5), though they have led in their last two such matches (1-1 v Ukraine, 1-2 v Scotland) having failed to do so in any of the previous six (D2 L4).
Republic of Ireland have failed to score in each of their last three matches, their longest streak since seven straight goalless games between September and November 2020; in fact, the Boys in Green have failed to score in 12 of their 18 UEFA Nations League matches.
Heimir Hallgrímsson has lost both of his first two games in charge of the Republic of Ireland (0-2 vs England and Greece) and could become the first manager to lose each of their first three competitive games in charge of the nation.
Fredrik Jensen scored the only goal in both of Finland’s wins in the UEFA Nations League against the Republic of Ireland in 2020, while each of his last three goals for his nation have come in Helsinki.
Republic of Ireland’s Evan Ferguson has scored (2 goals) or assisted (1 assist) in three of his six starts in competitive action for the Boys in Green, though his last such start came in November last year.