Finland vs Albania 2-1

Finland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 at Helsinki Olympic Stadium, with Leo Walta scoring twice after Rey Manaj had put the visitors ahead and Albania were reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute.

Albania opened the scoring in the 4th minute when Manaj finished from Kristjan Asllani for 1-0. Etrit Berisha was sent off in the 22nd minute, and Finland levelled four minutes later through Walta before half-time at 1-1.

The match turned again on 71 minutes when Walta struck for his second goal, making it 2-1. Finland had already made a change on 45 minutes, with Kaan Kairinen going off for Glen Kamara, and then used two more at 62 minutes as Daniel Håkans and Tony Miettinen were replaced by Oiva Jukkola and Leo Väisänen. Albania also made a first-half change through Alen Sherri, who came on in the 25th minute for Arber Hoxha, and he was booked a minute later. They made two changes on 77 minutes, while Finland finished with late substitutions for Walta and Adam Markhiev.

Finland had 60% of the possession and 600 passes to Albania’s 396, but Albania still had more shots, 13 to 11, and more on target, 5 to 3. Finland won 7 corners to 6, while Albania had 3 offsides to Finland’s 1 and Finland made 4 saves to Albania’s 1.

The bookings were Kaan Kairinen for Finland in the 40th minute, and for Albania Alen Sherri in the 26th, Berat Djimsiti in the 74th, Myrto Uzuni in the 80th and Rolando Maran in the 81st. Etrit Berisha’s red card in the 22nd minute was the only dismissal.