Oct 11,2024
Ireland battled back from a shocking start to beat Finland 2-1 in tonight's Nations League encounter at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki.
Nathan Collins’ first-half blunder handed the hosts a 17th-minute gift, which was coolly converted by Joel Pohjanpalo as Finland led at half-time.
But a fired-up Ireland XI came fighting back after the break and restored parity thanks to a Liam Scales header.
And then, with the game heading towards injury-time, Robbie Brady popped up at the back post to hammer home the winning goal to secure a first victory of the Heimir Hallgrimsson era and a first away win in the Nations League.
Changes aplenty for this Irish team coming off the back of a double defeat in September, with all eyes on Finn Azaz in the middle of the park, drafted into the squad and sent straight into the starting XI, while Evan Ferguson, Josh Cullen and Liam Scales also came in following the loss to Greece.
And it was a return to a three-man defence as Liam Scales joined captain Nathan Collins and Dara O’Shea at the back with Chiedozie Ogbene and Brady at wing-back.
Azaz was straight into the action, looking for the ball in an advanced midfield role behind Ferguson up front; Sammie Szmodics was also dropping back into space making himself available.
The new-look side looked a tad rusty in the opening exchanges, with some mistakes on the ball and the odd misplaced pass, as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side looked to find their rhythm.
And it was Szmodics and Azaz who were involved in Ireland’s first real attacking play of the evening as they linked well, supported by Ogbene, before the ball was whipped across the face; Ferguson attacking the front post but just beaten by a Finnish foot.
Finland’s first foray forward came via the setpiece route, as they patiently worked a corner deep before Robin Lod latched onto the ball on the edge of the box, however, his shot was well blocked by Collins.
They came again two minutes later as Leo Walta hit one from distance, and while it dipped in front of Caoimhín Kelleher, the keeper was behind it all the way.
But disaster struck for this ill-fated Ireland selection as Finland were gifted the opening goal in the 17th minute following an awful error by the captain as his first-time pass back to Kelleher was woefully under hit.
A simple movement of the ball across the back line as Scales fed it inside, however, it was way too casual from Collins as he scuffed his first-time pass allowing Joel Pohjanpalo to race through and slam the ball past the keeper into the bottom right corner.
Ireland looked for an immediate response and actually had the ball in the back of the net two minutes later, however, it was immediately chalked off as the deep Robbie Brady free-kick appeared to cross the byline just as Collins headed it back for Ferguson to tap home – VAR would confirm that the assistant on the far side had got the decision spot on.
Finland were already happy to sit back and absorb the building Ireland play, but the visitors struggled to work it through the lines to threaten in the final third.
A corner was earned in the 29th minute, and it was a well-worked routine with Brady’s final execution lacking venom, as his shot from the edge was easily worked away from goal.
But Finland sprung back into life a minute later as O’Shea was beaten down the left by a clipped ball forward with Topi Keskinen nipping in, dragging it back to Pohjanpalo, however, the goalscorer’s effort was tame and easily collected.
Ireland then had a free from a central position in the 36th minute, and while they set up a decoy wall in order to confuse Lukas Hradecky between the sticks, Brady’s effort failed to clear the wall and the chance was wasted.
Hradecky was finally tested in the 41st minute as more Szmodics pressure led to Azaz getting a half-chance from out on the left of the area, and while he hit the target, the shot was lacking any real power to trouble the keeper.
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With half-time approaching, Szmodics brilliantly linked play right across the edge of the penalty area, before sliding the ball into the path of Ferguson who forced a decent save from Hradecky; the keeper getting a strong right hand on the close-range effort.
Ireland emerged early for the second half, completing a quick drill, perhaps to focus the minds after conceding early in the second half against Greece.
And it was the visitors who were first to threaten as Jason Knight rifled a low stinger from outside the box two minutes after the re-start, but it was well watched and well saved by Hradecky.
With Hallgrimsson directing from the sideline, Ireland looked to be attempting to move the ball that bit quicker compared to the opening 45, and it was causing Finland problems as the ball was worked well up the left with the advanced Brady finding the ever-willing Szmodics who worked it into the feet of Ferguson, resulting in a corner kick.
Scales subsequently found space to help his header into the feet of Szmodics whose flicked effort was well saved by the alert keeper.
Then in the 57th miniute the breakthrough arrived from a setpiece out on the right flank following a foul on Ogbene.
Brady’s delivery was sent deep, once again, and this time Scales was on hand to guide a perfect header back across the goal, beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.
Ireland were buoyed by the goal as the 1300-strong support really found their voice, as Ogbene again used his pace perfectly to race into space down the right flank in the 60th minute.
With Szmodics and Ferguson bursting forward, it was the latter who was found on the edge of the box, however, his under-pressure shot was stopped by Hradecky.
But the home side also came to life two minutes later as a quick counter was well worked into the feet of the powerful Pohjanpalo; Cullen clipped it clear but the ball rolled perfectly for Glen Kamara and while he attempted to whip it into the top corner, he placed it the wrong side of the post.
Two changes followed for the home side with 25 minutes remaining and they went back on the front foot with Adam Stahl getting forward and teasing a ball across the front post; Kelleher was first to react and took the ball cleanly with Pohjanpalo sniffing a second.
Tory Parrott and Jamie McGrath were then sent on as Ireland looked like they wanted to push for a winner, not yet ready to settle for a share of the spoils.
Ireland started to look edgy at the back, as Finland enjoyed a sustained spell and again Collins appeared indecisive as he opted to head a ball that Kelleher appeared to be calling for.
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Adam Idah and Festy Ebosele got sent on for the last ten minutes, while Finland also sensed they could secure the three points sending talisman Teemu Pukki into the attack.
Benjamin Kallman almost won it for Finland in the 87th minute as he rose majestically at the back post before guiding his header back across the face, however, it hopped just wide of the far post.
But Brady went one better a minute later as he slammed the ball home from close range following some excellent work out on the right by substitute Ebosele.
The Watford man showed amazing close control out wide before skipping between two white jerseys and clipping the ball into the path of the arriving Brady, who showed perfect composure and control before hammering home, to spark Lille-like celebrations from the Euro 2016 veteran.
Troy Parrott had a chance to wrap up all three points in injury time following more brilliant wing-work from Ebosele, but the well-hit strike was batted away.
But the points were finally wrapped up just a minute later as the three additional passed with no further threats from the home side as Ireland finally managed to win on the road in the Nations League.
Finland: Lukas Hradecky (capt); Adam Stahl, Tomas Galvez, Robert Ivanov, Arttu Hoskonen; Glen Kamara, Rasmus Schuller (Matti Peltola 65), Leo Walta (Teemu Pukki 79); Topi Keskinen (Oliver Antman 65), Robin Lod, Joel Pohjanpalo (Benjamin Källman 78)
Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Nathan Collins (capt), Dara O'Shea, Liam Scales; Robbie Brady, Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Chiedozie Ogbene (Festy Ebosele 80), Finn Azaz (Jamie McGrath 71); Sammie Szmodics (Adam Idah 80), Evan Ferguson (Troy Parrott 71)
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD)
