Scotland 0-0 Finland
UEFA Women’s Championship Qualification, Round 2 - Play-off, 1st Leg
Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh
Friday, 29 November 2024

Team News

Pedro Martinez Losa was in the fortunate position of being able to name the same starting line-up that took care of business last month in Leith – placing his faith in the players who produced an emphatic 4-0 win over Hungary.

Influential midfielder Erin Cuthbert appeared on the back of being nominated for the FIFA Women’s World XI.

Finland, on the other hand, made three changes from their defeat of Montenegro – with Anna Tamminen replacing Tinja-Riikka Korpela in goal, in addition to Anni Hartikainen and Joanna Tynnilä getting the nod over Emmi Siren and Eva Nystrom.

As It Happened

Scotland started on the front foot, with Martha Thomas unfortunate not to find Sam Kerr with a pass early on in the Finland box.

Claire Emslie, too, started brightly, with a surging run down the left leading to a cross that just evaded her supporting team-mates.

At the other end, Finland threatened on the 10-minute mark, with Ria Oling firing over from the edge of the box.

The visitors upped the ante through experienced campaigner Linda Sällström on the 15-minute mark.

The Finnish captain’s audacious lob from the edge of the box had Eartha Cumings scrambling, but the Scotland shot-stopper displayed brilliant reflexes to claw the ball away.

Scotland responded, with a threatening delivery from Emslie finding the head of Thomas, but the Finns were able to deflect it behind for a corner.

Caroline Weir also tried her luck from distance, but Tamminen was equal to her effort.

Cumings was called into action again when Finland were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position from the edge of the box.

Evelina Summanen curled in a strike but Cumings was unfazed, catching confidently with two strong hands behind the ball.

Scotland picked up, with Jenna Clark blasting over after Emslie’s initial shot was blocked.

Goal-less at half-time, Scotland made two changes – with Kirsty Hanson and Chelsea Cornet substituted on in place of Lisa Evans and Sam Kerr.

Emma Watson followed for Thomas, with the Scots looking to find a way to break the deadlock against stubborn opponents.

Watson almost enjoyed a dream introduction, but couldn’t quite get her head to Emslie’s cross.

Play raged to the other end, with Sophie Howard – who was, once again, so solid throughout – doing just enough to put off Sallstrom when she looked well placed to turn in substitute Sanni Fransii’s cross.

Jamie-Lee Napier took over from Emslie to inject some fresh impetus late on, with nothing separating the two sides.

Hanson was making her presence felt, and her cross caused issues for the Finland defence, who were only able to clear as far as Erin Cuthbert on the edge of the box.

Cuthbert tried to chip the ball back into the penalty area, but Tamminen was read the danger and gathered.

Tamminen was called into action again by Hanson, who looked to pick up a sore one in the process but battled on.

Scotland didn't quite have the cutting edge in the final third tonight, but know a place in the finals is there for the taking if they can get the job done in Finland next week.

Next Up

Scotland head to Helsinki for the all-important return leg of this play-off on Tuesday night.

It's a 5.15pm kick-off (GMT) at the Helsinki Football Stadium and you can watch the match live on BBC ALBA.

Teams

Scotland: Cumings, Docherty, Howard, Kerr (Cornet 46), Weir, Evans (Hanson 46), Clark, Smith, Emslie (Napier 76), Thomas (Watson 61), Cuthbert. Unused substitutes: Gibson, Fife, Mukandi, Clark, McGregor, Hay, McLauchlan, Rodgers.

Finland: Tamminen, Öling (Ahtinen 88), Koivisto, Tynnilä, Siren (Alanen 74), Kuikka, Lehtola, Sällström, Hartikainen, Summanen, Sevenius (Franssi 62). Unused substitutes: Koivunen, Korpela, Koivisto, Halttunen, Siren, Heroum, Kollanen, Leskinen.