Last-gasp Finland hit form on homecoming

Finland 3-2 Italy
UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts Finland warmed up for their three Group A fixtures at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium with an exciting friendly win there against Italy.

Talonen winner
Finland had secured only one victory over 90 minutes in nine friendlies this year and twice trailed against their fellow European finalists. But in the last minute substitute Sanna Talonen put Finland in front in their first home game since last August and so inflicted Italy's only defeat of 2009.

Swift equaliser
Italy made a lively start and were ahead on 13 minutes through Pamela Conti. Laura Österberg-Kalmari, back after fracturing a cheekbone in the Algarve Cup in March, set up Linda Sällström for the equaliser ten minutes later and fine saves from Minna Meriluoto in the Finland goal and Italian counterpart Michaela Cupido ensured the score remained 1-1 at the break.

Late drama
Patrizia Panico restored Italy's lead six minutes into the second half after a corner but Sällström again levelled, pouncing on a rebound following an Österberg-Kalmari strike. And Österberg-Kalmari was the provider again at the death when her header was only partially cleared and Talonen pounced for the winner.

Improvement
"We are doing better all the time and this was a very good and important win for us," said Finland coach Michael Käld. "We started a little bit nervously, but got back into game quickly and I think we dominated the second half quite clearly." His team continue their build-up on 22 July against Sweden in Pori and face Northern Ireland at the Helsinki Football Stadium on 10 August before beginning their finals campaign 13 days later against Denmark, with games versus the Netherlands and Ukraine to come.

Ghedin satisfied
Italy end their Group C campaign at the Olympic Stadium against Russia, their section also including England and Sweden and coach Pietro Ghedin said: "The team played well, better than I expected given that, in terms of their physical condition, the girls are not at their peak because we are at the end of our season, while the Finns are in full swing. Besides the goal, we also hit both posts."