Pukki gets HJK out of trouble in Conference League draw with Motherwell

[p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hjk-nmjJVR7B/motherwell-YuW7ZfMM/?mid=2LiP6p0m"]HJK 1-1 Motherwell[/a][/b][/p][p]A 5-0 aggregate win over HB of the Faroe Islands in the previous round secured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/motherwell/YuW7ZfMM/"]Motherwell[/a] a positive return to European action after four years away, though that was eclipsed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hjk/nmjJVR7B/"]HJK[/a]'s 8-0 thrashing of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/coleraine/2B9zTTrh/"]Coleraine[/a].[/p][p]But goals were in shorter supply in the first half in Helsinki as neither side found a way through in the first half, though it was the home side looking the stronger, taking all four shots on target.[/p][p]The home side were punished for not taking any of those chances after the break, as [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/charles-cook-regan/xMSlLHOR/"]Regan Charles-Cook[/a] was brought down inside the penalty area and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maswanhise-tawanda-jethro/MyRJgUR0/"]Tawanda Maswanhise[/a] sent [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/markovic-matej/AD3sFxbs/"]Matej Markovic[/a] the wrong way[/b] from the penalty spot in the 64th minute.[/p][embed guid="b33bffc0-2810-467a-9917-e39337403fd9" url="https://x.com/hjkhelsinki/status/2085418437413650780" social-type="twitter" /][p]However, HJK finally found their shooting boots seven minutes later, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simojoki-kaius/E78kUCrg/"]Kaius Simojaki[/a] cut in from the right and found [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pukki-teemu/SxeXIHNo/"]Teemu Pukki[/a]. Despite having his back to goal and plenty of bodies around him, the veteran found a way through and powered the ball into the roof of the net[/b] from a tight angle.[/p][p]1-1 was how it stayed, meaning HJK will have to go to Scotland and get something when the teams face off again in the second leg on 13th August.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/europe/conference-league/"]Follow all the UECL qualifiers on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]