A 2-0 win over Scotland in Helsinki means the Helmarit, or Boreal Owls, will play in a European finals tournament for the fifth time.
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Nea Lehtola (centre) celebrates scoring Finland’s second goal against Scotland with teammate Joanna Tynnilä. Image: Tomi Hänninen/Chilipictures
Finland’s women’s football team secured qualification for next year’s European Championship finals with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Scotland in Helsinki on Tuesday evening.
Over 7,000 spectators braved the subzero temperatures at the capital’s Bolt Arena to cheer on the Helmarit (or Boreal Owls in English) as they qualified for a European Championship finals for the fifth time.
First-half goals from centre-half Natalia Kuikka and midfielder Nea Lehtola were enough to seal the aggregate win following a 0-0 draw in Edinburgh last week.
After Tuesday night’s victory, Lehtola told Yle the win had special significance for her after a spate of injuries kept her on the sidelines for long periods.
“I can’t really describe it. It was just three years ago that I was lying in bed and didn’t know where I was going, my head was full of really dark thoughts. Then we win here today, I thought before the game that I would give it my all. I will play the same way I did when I was little, just enjoying my football,” she said.
Next year’s tournament will be played in Switzerland from 2 to 27 July.
Finland took the lead after just 8 minutes thanks to this long-range effort from Natalia Kuikka.
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Publish date : 2024-12-03 16:00:00
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