Finland make strong start to New Zealand series with victory over the hosts

[p]The game will go down as a real disappointment for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a], whose build-up to the FIFA World Cup got off to a shaky start.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/QuVpPpic/"]Finland[/a]'s starting centre-forward role is up-for-grabs after the international retirement of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pukki-teemu/SxeXIHNo/"]Teemu Pukki[/a], [b]and 31-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pohjanpalo-joel/WfrgzpCh/"]Joel Pohjanpalo[/a] staked his claim midway through the first half when he headed home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/walta-leo/t6VubL4D/"]Leo Walta[/a]'s corner at the back post.[/b][/p][p]Both sides had good chances as the match went on, the most spectacular a thunderous strike from over 25 yards by Walta which cannoned off the underside of the bar and out.[/p][embed guid="eec282fd-6f82-4150-bcf1-c4307472c8cf" url="https://x.com/Huuhkajat/status/2037441079360827492" social-type="twitter" /][p]But the Eagle Owls were able to wrap up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/finland-QuVpPpic/new-zealand-rLctHkpU/?mid=lWHoLFXA"]the victory[/a] five minutes from time, [b]when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/keskinen-topi/tYPHS2vA/"]Topi Keskinen[/a] was forced wide on an attack, but had the presence of mind to square to the incoming [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oksanen-jaakko/naWnSEUJ/"]Jaakko Oksanen[/a], whose strike had just too much on it for goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crocombe-max/xSeBjmIu/"]Max Crocombe[/a].[/b][/p][p]It's a second win with a clean sheet in as many games for Jacob Friis' side after they beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/andorra/dnO5z404/"]Andorra[/a] 4-0 to end 2025. The Finns will now face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a], also at Auckland's Eden Park, where another win coupled with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chile/KUCG35cM/"]Chile[/a] dropping points against New Zealand will see Finland win the four-team series.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/fifa-series/"]Follow all the March international fixtures on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]