Nurmela puts Finland on top

Wednesday, 15 November 2006

Finland saw off a spirited Armenia to claim all three
points and storm to the summit of UEFA EURO 2008~Y
qualifying Group A.

Third win
Veteran forward Mika Nurmela nodded the only goal
within the opening ten minutes as the hosts rarely
broke sweat in sub-zero conditions. The result,
unbeaten Finland’s third win in five games this
campaign, gives Roy Hodgson’s men a one-point
advantage over second-placed Serbia, while Armenia
remain second from bottom with a solitary point from
four matches.

Artificial pitch
The only major adaptation either side had to make
going into the game – aside from Finland having to
cope without injured talisman Jari Litmanen – was the
use of an artificial pitch, but there was nothing
cosmetic about the gritty style of play. Once the
match settled, however, the hosts showed their
attacking prowess, Toni Kallio heading narrowly wide
and Mika Vayrynen testing Gevorg Kasparov’s reactions
with a stinging drive from 20 metres.

Nurmela header
In between, Levon Pachajyan managed to call Jussi
Jaaskelainen into action at the other end, but Finland
stayed on top and made the breakthrough on ten minutes
when the 34-year-old Nurmela nodded Jonatan
Johansson’s chip into the bottom corner. Vayrynen then
added his miscued chance to the couple wasted by
Alexei Eremenko Jr as the home team chased their
second of the evening, though the game was becoming
more about strength than style.

Kasparov save
Armenia briefly flirted with the latter when Armen
Shahgeldyan went close, but as was generally the case
Finland had little trouble dismantling their attacking
threat. After the break, shooting from distance came
into fashion, Joonas Kolkka and Pachajyan trying their
luck from outside the area, but neither goalkeeper had
cause to be concerned until Kasparov parried
Johansson’s close-range effort in the 77th minute.

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