Finland back on course
Saturday, 4 September 2004
By Mikael Erävuori at the Ratina stadium
[1] Finland got their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign off the ground with a victory against Group 1 outsiders Andorra.
Comfortable win
[2] Two goals from Aleksei Eremenko Jr either side of Aki Riihilahti's tap-in sealed a comfortable win for the Finnish team, who lost their opening qualifying match 2-1 in Romania last month.
Cautious visitors
[3] Andorra, beginning their campign, were mindful of their hosts' superiority, and approached the game accordingly, with almost all their players behind the ball. Dead-ball situations offered the part-timers respite and they tried to make the very most of those rare opportunities.
Early chances
[4] But Finland were in the ascendancy from the start. Makeshift wing-back Mika Nurmela caused the Andorran defence plenty of problems down their left flank early on, while Jari Litmanen, Mikael Forssell and Sami Hyypiä all missed good chances.
Eremenko scores
[5] It was Eremenko who finally opened the scoring on 42 minutes with a direct free-kick. The US Lecce midfield player curled the ball over Jesus Luiz Alvarez in Andorra's goal from just outside the box to ease home nerves and send Finland in ahead at half-time.
Finland press
[6] Having gone behind just before the break, the visitors persisted with their cautious game plan in the second half, but Finland made sure of victory in a six-minute period either side of the hour mark.
Lead increases
[7] First Crystal Palace FC midfield player Riihilahti scrambled the ball in from three metres after Eremenko's corner on 58 minutes. Then Eremenko doubled his tally with another free-kick, catching goalkeeper Alvarez off guard and firing in off the post from a narrow angle.
Triumph sealed
[8] With that it was as if both teams were waiting for the final whistle. The hosts were satisfied with three goals, while Andorra could not pose a threat to Finland's goal, in which Antti Niemi had a quiet night. Finland now travel to Armenia on Wednesday, when Andorra are at home to Romania.