Finland fightback denies England win

England 2-2 Finland
UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts Finland recovered from conceding two goals in four minutes to draw with fellow finalists England in the first of a pair of friendlies in Cyprus.

Comeback
Just two minutes in England's Kelly Smith was brought down in the box by Tiina Salmén and got up to convert the spot-kick herself. Finland had barely recovered from that goal when a quick free-kick sent Lianne Sanderson clear and the striker doubled the lead. Finland pulled one back on the eleven-minute mark when Laura Österberg-Kalmari, making her international comeback after more than two years away, set up Leena Puranen to score and captain Anne Mäkinen equalised not long before half-time. England pressed late on for a repeat of their 3-2 win against Finland at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ but Michael Käld's side held on.

Käld releieved
Käld, whose team face England again on Wednesday, said: "The first few minutes were a real shock and I believe everyone was worrying about what it would be in the end. We did not lose our nerve, though, and showed fantastic strength in collecting ourselves and coming back." Österberg-Kalmari added: "We played well and we have to remember it is mid-season in England while most of us are still in the middle of pre-season. For example I had not played a competitive game for three months."