Wales hammer Finland

A comfortable and convincing Wales performance gave them a 4-1 hammering of Finland to setup a UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying playoff final with Poland in Cardiff on Tuesday evening.

LINEUPS 

WAL XI: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Davies*; Roberts, James, Ampadu, Williams; Brooks, Wilson; Johnson 

WAL SUBS: Hennessey, King, Fox, Dasilva, Sheehan, Savage, Ramsey, Broadhead, Cullen, Matondo, Moore

FIN XI: Hradecky*; Alho, Tenho, Ivanov, Peltola; Kamara, Schuller, Lod; Pohjanpalo, Pukki, Hakans

FIN SUBS: Sinisalo, Joronen, Hoskonen, Uronen, Niskanen, Kairinen, Soiri, R. Jensen, F. Jensen, Antman, Kallman

Action: After a relatively slow start, Wales sprang into action within the third minute of the match when Harry Wilson burst forward before striking at Bayer Leverkusen number one Lukas Hradecky but the ball fell to David Brooks on the rebound and he side footed firmly past Hradecky.

The visitors were much-improved immediately after the Welsh opener with the Fins having a couple of half-decent chances that were not taken by Daniel Hakans and Teemu Pukki.

Wales very much took advantage of Finland eventually coming forward with Brennan Johnson getting in behind before having a rushed effort blocked by Hradecky before Harry Wilson was then barged to the ground but Johnson had already been given as offside.

After the rest of the half began to become quite even once again, Wales did eventually double their lead via Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams. He lashed a wicked effort from a free-kick around 20 yards out to make it 2-0 to the Welsh.

SPECIAL NECO WILLIAMS FINISH 😱

What a hit by the @NFFC man to make it 2-0 to Wales in Cardiff 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿#EURO2024 | @Cymru pic.twitter.com/hUZweiQ7Jp

— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 21, 2024

After Williams’ impressive strike, Finland did manage to get themselves back into the match just before half-time when former Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki was squeezed through on goal and he very calmly and in very Pukki-style slotted past Danny Ward.

Wales managed to restore their two-goal lead just a few minutes into the second-half when Finland failed to clear a set-piece and the ball found its way to Brennan Johnson at the back post and he hammered home to make it 3-1.

Wales then had the opportunity to put a final nail in the Finnish coffin when Harry Wilson drove into the box he pushed a left-footed effort just wide of the post.

Ipswich Town striker Kieffer Moore then had an opportunity of his own when he was slid through on goal but his effort was comfortably saved by Lukas Hradecky.

Wales then eventually did have the ball in the net for a fourth time when Ben Davies headed past a poor Hradecky attempted save from a deep Neco Williams corner but Joe Rodon was deemed to have blocked Hradecky and he was stood in an offside position.

It didn’t matter, though, because Wales did finally get their fourth and clinching goal when defender Merho Tenho slipped as the last man, allowing for Daniel James to burst through and then very calmly round Hradecky before putting into the empty net.

The big picture: Wales will host Poland in Cardiff on Tuesday evening as they aim for a third successive UEFA European Championship qualification and a fourth tournament qualification in the last five events. Finland have only ever played at UEFA EURO 2020 in their international football history and that will remain the same for at least another two years with manager Markku Kanerva potentially coming under pressure after this defeat.

Man of the match: Harry Wilson. The in-form Fulham attacker was instrumental without scoring for Wales as they easily progressed into the playoff final of Path A.

EVENTS

Kick-off

‘3 | GOAL: Brooks (1-0)

’38 | GOAL: Williams (2-0)

’43 | GOAL: Pukki (2-1)

Half-time

’48 | GOAL: Johnson (3-1)

’80 | DISALLOWED: Davies

’86 | GOAL: James (4-1)

Full-time