Euro 2017 Womens Qualifier Report: Finland Women 4 - 1 Rep of Ireland Women

 

First-half goals from Emmi Alanen and Jenny Danielsson along with second-half goals from Natalia Kuikka and Linda Sallstrom saw the hosts run out comfortable victors despite a consolation goal from substitute Stephanie Roche. 

 

Ireland travelled to Finland knowing nothing less than a win would be good enough for Sue Ronan’s side and it was the visitors who had the game’s first chance inside the opening five minutes. Katie McCabe found Aine O’Gorman with a lovely weighted chip, but the UCD Waves player was adjudged to have been offside. 

 

Sallstrom would try her luck for the hosts after McCabe blocked a Tuija Hyyrynen shot – the ball fell to the forward who blazed over. 

 

As Ireland continued to live dangerously at the back a mix up between Diane Caldwell and Emma Byrne almost saw Finland in on goal, but the 'keeper Byrne toe poked the ball to safety before Nora Heroum failed to find the target from 15 yards. 

 

Ireland were almost punished soon after when Byrne failed to connect with a corner after leaving her line. The ball fell to Kuikka, but she too failed to connect from close range. 

 

Moments later, Ireland had a chance of their own when Julie-Ann Russell floated a cross into the box from the right wing, but McCabe failed to get her shot away in front of goal. 

 

Megan Connolly was the next Irish player to try her luck after a lovely ball from Caldwell found O’Gorman, who laid the ball to the Florida State University star – but despite turning and striking, her dipping effort sailed over the host's goal. 

 

Connolly was again involved minutes later, this time McCabe cut in from the left flank before playing a reverse pass to the Cork native whose shot with her weaker left foot was easily gathered by home 'keeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela.

 

Two minutes later, Finland broke the deadlock through Alanen after Annika Kukkonen set Sallstrom free down the right wing. The forward found Alanen at the back post with her cross from the by-line and she headed low past Byrne in the Irish goal.

 

The host's doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Danielsson found herself in behind the Irish defence from Hyyrynen’s cross and the 21 year-old made no mistake with her first time volley.

 

Despite being 2-0 behind Ireland had two opportunities to reduce the deficit before the break. First O’Gorman headed wide a Russell cross before Connolly’s strike from outside the box failed to trouble Korpela. 

 

As Ireland continued to search for a goal that would bring them back into the game, Connolly had another excellent chance five minutes into the second-half when she raced onto a pass from O’Gorman, but the forward attempted to round the 'keeper instead of shooting and Korpela was able to smother the ball. 

 

Ireland were lucky not to find themselves further behind on the hour mark when Kuikka had the ball in Byrne's next, but referee Cristina Dorcioman ruled the goal out for offside. 

 

Finland grabbed their third goal ten minutes later, Alanen latched onto a ball over the top before racing down the right flank and finding Kuikka who tapped into an empty Irish net from close range. 

 

Despite being torn apart at the back, Ireland grabbed what proved to be a consolation goal with 14 minutes remaining when Sophie Perry found Roche with a lovely weighted cross and the Sunderland player made no mistake from 12 yards, heading into the top corner.

 

The hosts added a fourth goal late on when Finland's Player of the Match Sallstrom got her name on the scoresheet after she latched onto a low cross from Ria Oling and fired past the onrushing Byrne from six yards.

 

Despite the defeat all but ending Ireland’s chances of qualification, the Girls in Green return to action on Tuesday evening at Tallaght Stadium when they host Montenegro in a 7pm kick-off.  

 

Finland: Tinja-Riikka Korpela; Tuija Hyyrynen, Maija Saari, Anna Westerlund, Annika Kukkonen; Adelina Engman (Ria Oling, 82), Emmi Alanen, Nora Heroum, Natalia Kuikka; Linda Sallstrom (Sanni Franssi, 88), Jenny-Julia Danielsson.

Subs Not Used: Siiri Valimaa, Tia Painilainen, Olga Ahtinen, Juliette Kemppi, Sanna Saarinen.

Booked: None. 

 

Ireland: Emma Byrne; Sophie Perry, Louise Quinn, Niamh Fahey, Meabh De Burca; Julie-Ann Russell (Ruesha Littlejohn, HT), Diane Caldwell, Katie McCabe; Denise O’Sullivan (Fiona O’Sullivan, 64), Megan Connolly, Aine O’Gorman (Stephanie Roche, 72). 

Subs Not Used: Niamh Reid Burke, Savannah McCarthy, Jetta Berrill, Emma Hansberry. 

Booked: Niamh Fahey (61).

 

Referee: Cristina Dorcioman (ROU).

 

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Linda Sallstrom (Finland).