Finland earn vital victory over Poland to keep up World Cup hopes

Finland got their World Cup qualification campaign back on track after Saturday’s defeat to the Netherlands by securing a 2-1 win over Poland, just their fourth win from 32 historical H2Hs.

The form and history book suggested Finland were always likely to struggle against Poland. The flow of the game in the early stages supported that too, as the Poles started firmly in the ascendancy.

Only some heroic defending prevented them taking an early lead, as when Lukas Hradecky stunningly denied Krzysztof Piatek, Jere Uronen heroically blocked Matty Cash’s follow up on the line.

The visitors were doing all the good work in the final third, but aside from that one opportunity, they were lacking any invention in front of goal.

For all Poland’s good work, they ultimately shot themselves in the foot. Goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski was caught dithering on the ball inside his own area by Joel Pohjanpalo, and in trying to atone for his error, he dove at the feet of Robin Lod and fouled him.

It was the instigator, Pohjanpalo, who assumed responsibility from the spot, confidently firing Finland into the lead against the run of play. 

The hosts could’ve gone into the break two goals to the good had Kaan Kairinen’s effort dipped just below the crossbar, but his ferocious drive whistled just over the top of Skorupski’s goal.

The Finns were gifted a glorious chance within two minutes of the restart to double their advantage when Lod ghosted in around the back to meet a deep corner, but his half-volleyed effort flashed inches wide of the target. Finnish pressure kept on coming, and they came even closer a matter of minutes later when Arttu Hoskonen headed Oliver Antman’s delivery against the crossbar.

Finland did eventually get their second goal, and Antman got his customary assist, unselfishly squaring for Benjamin Källman to tap into an empty net as he broke clear on goal.

Resting easy with a two-goal lead, Finland were perhaps guilty of taking their foot off the gas, and they were punished in brutal fashion when Jakub Kiwior bundled the ball home in a goalmouth scramble to have the deficit.

A medical emergency for someone in the stands halted the game for over 30 minutes, and when the players came back out onto the field, Poland came close to a leveller when Kiwior whistled a strike over the bar. The Poles were afforded a healthy 11 added minutes to find an equaliser, but their quest was unsuccessful, and they were knocked off top spot in Group G by Finland.