Summary

  • Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland (result)

  • Northern Ireland have lost seven of their nine qualifiers

  • The Finns have won five and lost four of their nine Group H games

  1. Postpublished at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Pukki's cross is deflected into the arms of Conor Hazard with the white shirts piling into the area.

  2. Postpublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Joel Pohjanpalo is the next to have a go from the edge of the area but he skies it into the Helsinki night.

  3. CLOSE!published at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Dan Ballard with a huge block.

    A cross finds Rasmus Schuller on the edge of the area.

    He hits it first time but Ballard sticks out a leg to deflect it wide.

  4. Postpublished at 18:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    We've just under 30 minutes to play in Finland.

  5. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 18:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Neill makes the first move.

    Debutant Ross McCausland is off for Conor Washington and Dion Charles makes way for Josh Magennis.

    Fredrik Jensen is also off for Teemu Pukki. No Pukki, no party.

  6. Postpublished at 18:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI in Helsinki

    We spoke of how important it was for Northern Ireland to respond well to that goal late in the first half.

    They haven't.

    Yes, it is an experienced squad but Daniel Hakans was able to brush past players far too easily before playing a one-two for his goal.

    What does manager Michael O'Neill do now to lift this side?

  7. CLOSE!published at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Lukas Hradecky only half clears a cross in the Finland box and it looks like it;ll drop for Dion Charles.

    He goes for a lobbed effort with the goalkeeper off his line, but it's under cooked and Alho can head away.

    Northern Irelands Isaac Price with Finlands Lukas HradeckyImage source, Press Eye
  8. CLOSE!published at 18:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    George Saville drags a shot across the face of goal after finding himself in space.

    It looks like Josh Magennis is about to come on.

  9. Postpublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    George Saville dinks in a cross to Daniel Ballard, who was up from the back.

    The defender goes for it but it's just over his head and out for a goal kick.

    Northern Irelands Dan Ballard with Finlands Rasmus SchllerImage source, Press Eye
  10. 'The concentration is not there'published at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Poor play from us defensively on the right hand side again and we get caught.

    The concentration is not there, we have just kicked off and we haven't got into the game.

    Once he gets free, Conor Hazard has to look at this, it's gone in off the post almost beside his right hand.

  11. Postpublished at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland

    It's usually a case of no Pukki, no party.

    The former Norwich striker is on the bench but he must be impressed with how quickly Finland doubled their lead.

  12. goal

    GOAL - Finland 2-0 Northern Irelandpublished at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Daniel Hakans (48 mins)

    What a Finnish!

    It's a disaster for Northern Ireland but it's a great goal.

    Hakans skips past a couple of tackles and finds Glen Kamara.

    He gets the ball back from the Leeds midfielder and fires in off Conor Hazard's near post.

    GOAL - FinlandImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    GOAL - Finland

  13. Postpublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland are seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages here.

  14. KICK-OFFpublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    Glen Kamara gets us under way for the second half in Helsinki.

  15. Postpublished at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    HT: Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    The players are back at the pitch. Can Northern Ireland hit back after the restart?

    Joel Pohjanpalo's penalty is the difference. A big 45 minutes to come.

    Joel  PohjanpaloImage source, Getty Images
  16. 'Northern Ireland are dropping too deep'published at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    HT: Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Connor
    Former Northern Ireland international on BBC Radio Ulster

    Northern Ireland are dropping too deep at times, like a low block and they can't get out as there is no one to play it up to.

    It'll be interesting to see if he brings McMenamin, Taylor or Marshall on and gives one of those boys a chance.

  17. Postpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    HT: Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    There's quite a few fans dancing in the stands before the players resurface.

    We're not sure if they are just trying to stay warm or if the half-time beats in the Olympic Stadium are class.

  18. 'I'd like to see us play more direct'published at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    HT: Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    It's actually been a better game than I predicted, both teams are trying.

    But again, we make one mistake at the back and we get punished for it. We have half chances at the other end, which we're not making connections with and are not troubling the goalkeeper.

    I'd like to see us play more direct, up the pace a little bit and put their back four under pressure, but I've been saying that the whole campaign.

  19. Another big test for young NI sidepublished at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI in Helsinki

    That's a hammer blow for Northern Ireland at the end of what had been an encouraging performance from a young and inexperienced side.

    How they react to that will be a massive test now.

    Being 1-0 down is a scoreline Northern Ireland are sadly familiar with - can they regroup and go again after the break?

    This will be an important team talk for Michael O'Neill.

  20. 'Northern Ireland won't give up'published at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    HT: Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    One thing we know is Northern Ireland won't give up.

    Whether we have the quality to claw this back or not I don't know, but we will certainly give it a go.