Lithuania Stuns Finland with Late Equalizer
Lithuania secures dramatic 2-2 draw with Finland in FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
Finland's unbeaten streak under Jacob Friis continued, but it was a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Lithuania in their FIFA World Cup qualifier. Despite being 2-0 down, Lithuania staged a remarkable comeback to earn a well-deserved point, ending their dismal eight-game losing streak across all competitions.
Lithuania's resilience spoiled Friis' perfect start as Finland manager, who had previously led his team to a narrow 1-0 victory in Malta on Friday. Finland got off to a flying start against Lithuania, scoring in just the fourth minute when Kaan Kairinen slotted home from close range after Joel Pohjanpalo's initial effort was blocked.
Finland's momentum continued as they doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Pohjanpalo calmly converted a penalty kick after Edvinas Girdvainis committed a clumsy foul in the box. However, Lithuania refused to give up, and their determination eventually paid off as they fought back to secure a 2-2 draw.
Trailing 2-0 after just 20 minutes, Lithuania embarked on a desperate search for a way back into the game. As the first half unfolded, the hosts created several scoring opportunities, but Finland's goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, stood tall, denying Armandas Kučys and Edgaras Utkus in quick succession.
Despite Hradecky's heroics, Lithuania continued to threaten Finland's goal. Gvidas Gineitis and Kučys both saw their efforts saved by the Finnish goalkeeper, but Kučys eventually broke through six minutes before halftime, drilling a clinical finish inside the near post from 12 yards.
The second half saw Lithuania maintain their momentum, but clear-cut chances were scarce despite their dominance in possession. However, Edgaras Jankauskas' team refused to relent, and their persistence paid off in the final 25 minutes when Gineitis unleashed a sublime long-range strike that flew beyond Hradecky's reach.
The match was now poised for a thrilling conclusion, with both teams pushing for a late winner. Finland's substitute, Benjamin Källman, squandered a golden opportunity with a headed chance from inside the six-yard box, but neither team could find the decisive goal. Ultimately, the match ended in a 2-2 stalemate, extending Lithuania's poor World Cup qualifying record to just two wins from their last 20 outings.
Finland, meanwhile, maintained their unbeaten start to World Cup qualifying, bouncing back from a dismal run of six consecutive defeats to end 2024.
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