“Rey Manaj heads home from close range after a corner is whipped in by Kristjan Asllani, giving Albania an early shock lead.”
Pivotal“Leo Walta levels for Finland with a well-struck free kick into the bottom right corner, capitalizing on the momentum shift from the red card.”
Pivotal“Leo Walta strikes again from a free kick, curling the ball into the bottom left corner to complete his brace and put Finland ahead for good.”
Pivotal
Finland
Albania
Outstanding performance
Finland•MidfielderAlbania stunned Finland with an early set-piece goal through Rey Manaj, but the game changed dramatically when goalkeeper Etrit Berisha was sent off for a professional foul in the 22nd minute, forcing Albania into a defensive reshuffle. Finland capitalized almost immediately, with Leo Walta curling home a free kick to equalize before the half-hour mark, and the same player struck again in the 71st minute with another dead-ball special to complete the comeback. Finland's dominance in the underlying numbers - 60% possession, 603 passes at 90% accuracy, and 59 dangerous attacks to Albania's 28 - reflected how the extra man advantage allowed them to control territory and tempo for long stretches, even if Albania remained dangerous on the counter with 13 shots and 5 on target. For Albania, the result will sting given they created the better chance quality early on, but playing over an hour with ten men against a side ranked above them proved too much to overcome, while Finland's timing could hardly have been better given their position in the Nations League table.
How entertaining was this match?
Mirlind Daku from Albania is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Samuli Miettinen of Finland.
Corner awarded to Albania after Leo Väisänen concedes.
Mirlind Daku commits a foul for Albania.
Joel Pohjanpalo from Finland wins a free kick in the defensive half.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 5 minutes of added time.
Substitution for Finland: Matti Peltola comes on for Adam Markhiyev.
Corner awarded to Albania after a concession by Samuli Miettinen.
Adrian Svanbäck from Finland misses a right-footed shot from outside the box to the left after a corner.
Joel Pohjanpalo's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Adrian Svanbäck.
Finland is awarded a corner after Berat Djimsiti concedes.
Anis Mehmeti is caught offside for Albania.
Berat Djimsiti from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Joel Pohjanpalo of Finland.
Mirlind Daku's right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved by Lukás Hrádecky in the center of the goal. The attempt was assisted by Elseid Hysaj.
Myrto Uzuni from Albania misses a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, sending it to the right. He was assisted by Mirlind Daku.
Substitution for Finland: Onni Valakari comes on for Leo Walta.
Myrto UzuniYellow CardMyrto Uzuni from Albania receives a yellow card.
Myrto Uzuni from Albania is down, but the referee considers it simulation.
Mirlind Daku from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Leo Väisänen from Finland.
Substitution for Albania: Anis Mehmeti comes on for Stavros Pilios.
Substitution for Albania: Juljan Shehu comes on for Kristjan Asllani.
Attempt blocked. Leo Walta from Finland has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked.
Foul committed by Berat Djimsiti of Albania.
Oiva Jukkola from Finland wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Berat DjimsitiYellow CardBerat Djimsiti of Albania receives a yellow card for a foul.
Adam Markhiyev's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Glen Kamara provided the assist.
Mirlind Daku commits a foul for Albania.
Leo Väisänen wins a free kick for Finland in the attacking half.
Goal! Finland leads 2-1 against Albania. Leo Walta scores for Finland with a right-footed shot from a free kick into the bottom left corner.
Mirlind Daku commits a foul for Albania.
Adam Markhiyev from Finland is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Mirlind Daku from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Adam Markhiyev of Finland.
Finland is awarded a corner after Berat Djimsiti concedes.
Elseid Hysaj commits a foul for Albania.
Adam Markhiyev from Finland is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution for Albania: Myrto Uzuni comes on for Ernest Muçi.
Attempt missed. Adam Ståhl's header from the right side of the six-yard box is close, but it misses the top right corner. Leo Walta provided the assist with a cross after a corner.
Finland wins a corner after Berat Djimsiti concedes.
Substitution for Finland: Oiva Jukkola comes on for Daniel Håkans.
Substitution for Finland: Leo Väisänen comes on for Tony Miettinen.
Attempt missed. Stavros Pilios from Albania takes a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it goes close and misses to the left after a fast break.
Glen Kamara is caught offside for Finland.
Attempt saved. Stavros Pilios from Albania has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but Lukás Hrádecky from Finland saves it in the bottom left corner. The assist came from Mirlind Daku.
Berat Djimsiti's left-footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Lukás Hrádecky. The attempt was assisted by Ylber Ramadani, who provided a headed pass.
Ardian Ismajli's header from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Kristjan Asllani's cross.
Albania wins a corner after Tony Miettinen concedes.
Elseid Hysaj from Albania wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Daniel Håkans commits a foul for Finland.
Mirlind Daku from Albania wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Samuli Miettinen of Finland.
Foul committed by Tony Miettinen of Finland.
Mirlind Daku from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Daniel Håkans from Finland takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes to the right after a corner.
Finland wins a corner after Ardian Ismajli concedes.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Ylber Ramadani from Albania.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Adam Markhiyev from Finland.
Kristjan Asllani from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Glen Kamara commits a foul for Finland.
Stavros Pilios from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Adam Markhiyev of Finland.
The second half begins with the match tied at 1-1 between Finland and Albania.
Substitution for Albania: Mirlind Daku comes on for Rey Manaj.
Substitution for Finland: Glen Kamara comes on for Kaan Kairinen.
First half ends with the score tied at 1-1 between Finland and Albania.
Rey Manaj from Albania is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Adam Markhiyev of Finland.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 3 minutes of added time.
Attempt saved. Joel Pohjanpalo's header from the center of the box is saved by Alen Sherri in the center of the goal. The cross was assisted by Daniel Håkans.
Finland wins a corner after Stavros Pilios concedes.
Attempt missed. Ardian Ismajli's header from the center of the box goes wide to the left. He was assisted by Ernest Muçi, who delivered a cross after a corner.
Ylber Ramadani from Albania misses an attempt with a header from the left side of the six-yard box, sending it just a bit too high. The assist came from Ardian Ismajli after a corner.
Corner awarded to Albania after a concession by Samuli Miettinen.
Ylber Ramadani from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Kaan KairinenYellow CardKaan Kairinen from Finland receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Kaan Kairinen commits a foul for Finland.
Albania is called offside as Stavros Pilios is caught in an offside position.
Tony Miettinen's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Adam Markhiyev provided the assist.
Foul committed by Tony Miettinen of Finland.
Ardian Ismajli from Albania is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Finland wins a corner after Elseid Hysaj concedes.
Finland wins a corner after Mario Mitaj concedes.
Adam Markhiyev from Finland is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Rey Manaj commits a foul for Albania.
Alen SherriYellow CardAlen Sherri from Albania receives a yellow card.
Goal! Finland equalizes with a score of 1-1. Leo Walta scores for Finland from a free kick with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
Substitution for Albania: Alen Sherri comes on for Arbër Hoxha.
Etrit Berisha from Albania commits a foul.
Etrit BerishaRed CardEtrit Berisha from Albania receives a red card.
Daniel Håkans from Finland wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Arbër Hoxha (Albania) has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that goes wide to the left. Rey Manaj provided the assist.
Rey Manaj's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Stavros Pilios provided the assist.
Albania wins a corner after Tony Miettinen concedes.
Attempt blocked. Ernest Muçi's right-footed shot from outside the box for Albania is blocked. Arbër Hoxha provided the assist.
Foul committed by Ylber Ramadani of Albania.
Adam Markhiyev from Finland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Rey Manaj from Albania commits a foul.
Adam Markhiyev from Finland wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside called against Albania. Ernest Muçi is caught offside.
Albania wins a corner after Leo Walta concedes.
assist: Kristjan Asllani
Goal! Albania takes the lead 1-0 against Finland. Rey Manaj scores with a header from the left side of the six-yard box into the top right corner, assisted by Kristjan Asllani's cross following a corner.
Attempt missed. Daniel Håkans from Finland takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes too high.
Foul committed by Tony Miettinen of Finland.
Rey Manaj from Albania wins a free kick in the attacking half.
First half begins.
Group C1 leaders Albania head to Helsinki looking to extend their perfect record against a Finland side unbeaten at home and defensively solid. With both teams yet to concede this campaign, something has to give in what's shaping up as a tense, tactical battle for top spot.
