Finland hit their stride

Georgian delight
Georgia took on F.Y.R. Macedonia in the opening game in Äänekoski and within 31 minutes were 3-1 up. Rati Tsinamdzgvrishvili and George Ganugrava struck in the first ten minutes, and although Agim Ibraimi swiftly pulled one back, Tsinamdzgvrishvili scored again just after the half-hour. Beka Gotsiridze completed a 4-1 victory with ten minute left.

Greek victory
In the other game in Jyväskylä, Greece beat Finland 2-1, Dimitrios Ginantzis put Greece ahead in the eleventh minute, Jani Bäckman levelled 13 minutes later and Socratis Papastathopoulos struck the winner seconds after the hour mark.

Finland on course
Fresh from their victories, Georgia and Greece played out a 0-0 draw two days later in Jyväskylä. Meanwhile, in Äänekoski, Finland revived their campaign and ended F.Y.R. Macedonia's hopes with a 3-2 win. Mika Ojala's 21st-minute goal for the hosts was cancelled out late in the first half by Ibraimi. But Valeri Minkenen restored Finland's advantage two minutes into the second period, and Werner Kaitila extended the lead on 68 minutes, meaning that although Gjoko Fidanovski reduced the arrears, the points were Finland's.

Draw enough
On the final day, Greece knew they only needed to draw with F.Y.R. Macedonia, and a point would be enough for Georgia against Finland - who required victory. Greece set themselves on their way in Keuruu when they took a 38th-minute lead. Krste Velkoski levelled ten minutes into the second half, but the eventual 1-1 draw was sufficient for Greece.

Ojala joy