Finland Clinches FIFA Series Title in Dramatic Fashion
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| Finland wins FIFA Series NZ despite Cape Verde penalty loss |
Finland wins FIFA Series New Zealand despite losing to Cape Verde on penalties. The team remains unbeaten in 90 minutes against World Cup-bound sides, next up friendlies vs Germany and Hungary.
New Zealand's win later confirmed Finland as winners of the tournament - they've remained unbeaten in 90 minutes...
Finland's winning streak was snapped as they surrendered a half-time lead to Cape Verde, ultimately losing on penalties at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Cape Verde's World Cup-bound status made the match a tough one for Finland.
Despite the loss, Finland secured the FIFA Series New Zealand title thanks to the point they earned. This outcome was sealed after New Zealand thumped Chile 4-1 later that evening.
Finland leads the four-team group with four points from two games, followed by New Zealand and Chile on three points each, and Cape Verde on two.
Jacob Friis made four changes to the side that beat the All Whites 2-0 three days earlier.
Two players who retained their places combined to score deep into first-half stoppage time - Leo Walta cut in from the right with pace before squaring the ball for Naatan Skytta to turn home.
It was a first international goal for the Kaiserslautern midfielder, and his fourth cap for Finland.
Finland pushed for a second goal early in the second half, but it was a narrow miss. Topi Keskinen created space at the edge of the area and unleashed a low strike that hit the base of the post and bounced away, denying him a first international goal.
Finland's lead was short-lived, as they conceded with a quarter of the match to go. Sidny Lopes Cabral set up SJK Seinajoki's Kelvin Pires, who has a Finnish connection, to score the equaliser. It was Pires' first goal on his fourth cap, just like Skytta's milestone earlier.
The match headed straight to penalties after 90 minutes. Lopes Cabral and Walta got the teams off to a good start, scoring their spot-kicks. Finland gained momentum as Jovane missed, and Onni Valakari scored. But things unraveled from there - Keskinen and Jaakko Oksanen both missed, and Cape Verde scored their next three to win 4-2.
New Zealand's win later confirmed Finland as winners of the tournament - they've remained unbeaten in 90 minutes against two World Cup-bound teams.
Friis' side will be back in action in late May and early June with friendlies against Germany and Hungary.
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