Finland fire four past Moldova

Mixu Paatelainen's first home game as Finland coach went to plan as his side earned a comfortable UEFA EURO 2012 Group E victory against Moldova.

Kasper Hämäläinen struck twice before the break and any lingering nerves evaporated after Mikael Forssell made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute. Igor Armaş's own goal piled on the misery for Gavril Balint's visitors, with substitute Serghei Alexeev's late goal scant consolation.

Finland started as they meant to go on, and were on the scorewheet on 11 minutes, with Forssell flicking on Roman Eremenko's corner for Hämäläinen to nod past Nicolae Calancea. The Finns had a scare when Alexandru Suvorov's free-kick arrowed just wide, but Forssell then drove a shot against the post before Djurgårdens IF midfielder Hämäläinen raced through to convert from Daniel Sjölund's neat ball.

A foul on defender Kari Arkivuo after half-time prompted a penalty, which Forssell slotted in, and Eremenko produced his second assist of the night to make it 4-0, with the unfortunate Armaş heading the FC Rubin Kazan man's ball past his own keeper. Alexeev's 20-metre finish took a little of the gloss off the result, but Paatelainen – who took charge in March – had little cause for regret.