A five-minute lapse of concentration was the difference between The Faroe Islands and Finland who win 1-0
Finland - Faroe Islands 1-0 (1-0)
1-0 Joel Pohjanpalo
A tame – and boring, really – first half where neither team had much to offer, and few scoring opportunities were created.
But 21 minutes through the match the Faroes rode their luck when two clear Finns failed to connect with the ball at close range.
Having thought they had survived the assault, it was a bitter blow to see the ball in the net less than a minute later where Alexander Ring curled an effort on the woodwork for Joel Pohjanpalo to grab the goal on the rebound with a looping header in off the crossbar.
Just a minute later, Gunnar Nielsen again had to be alert and punched a shot over the crossbar.
That was about the only threat Finland had during the entire first half.
At the other end, the Faroe Islands rarely threatened, and the suspended Jóan Símun Edmundsson was sorely missed, as his replacement is more of a target man whereas Edmundsson competence is keeping possession of the ball.
The Faroese performance improved a lot during the second half where they passed the ball around much better, and a couple of opportunities were created:
Ten minutes through the half, Sølvi Vatnhamar failed to pick out two clear teammates in the penalty area, and after 63 minutes Fróði Benjaminsen headed narrowly wide from Gilli Sørensen’s cross from the left.
Finland went close twice again after 70 and 75 minutes, but Nielsen made a couple of world class saves to deny a second goal.
Central midfielders Fróði Benjaminsen, Hallur Hansson and Brandur Olsen all picked up yellow cards today and will be suspended in the next match away to Hungary on 8 October.