Northern Ireland top group in Euro 2016 qualifiers

Uefa offered help to its smaller members with the expansion of the European Championship.

Northern Ireland emerged 2-1 winners when they faced Finland in Belfast in March and took the lead in Sunday’s reverse fixture at the Olympic Stadium thanks to a first-half strike from Craig Cathcart, United’s former Academy graduate who had never previously scored in global football. The venue for the 1952 games will soon make way for a new €200m arena but Finland struggled to deliver the farewell they sought. Finland’s carelessness in possession added to their problems.

The visitors had the better of the early chances in a lacklustre start with winger Stuart Dallas guilty of wasting two glorious opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes.

A minute later Dallas was gifted a chance when poor defending saw the ball deflect off a defender but his low first time shot was gathered by keeper Hradecky.

The subsequent corner was only cleared as far as Chris Brunt on the edge of the area and his sweetly-struck drive might have crept under the crossbar had it not struck his team-mate Gareth McAuley flush on the back.

Northern Ireland then needed Michael McGovern to be alert in order to maintain their advantage, the goalkeeper making a string of saves – including one at point blank range from Pohjanpalo – to keep Finland at bay.

Northern Ireland’s campaign ended on a high in Helsinki after rewriting more history en route to Euro 2016.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole’s live text commentary of Finland vs. Northern Ireland.

Substitute Teemu Pukki sent a deep cross into Kasper Hamalainen on the right, instantly leaving the Northern Ireland defence exposed.

McNair was withdrawn soon after, Fleetwood’s Conor McLaughlin arriving for his ninth appearance of the campaign. Northern Ireland reacted furiously to the late equaliser. They’ll still be hoping to salvage a few pride from this game, and give themselves a boost heading into their next qualification attempt.