Nations League C2 round-up: Solid defence the base for Finland’s promotion

Finland topped Group C2 and earned promotion despite losing their final two games.

Estonia were the unfortunate team to be relegated, though they did win one match beating Greece.

Teemu Pukki got the only goal of the game as Finland downed a Hungary side still finding their feet under new manager Marco Rossi. While the result was a close one the hosts could have extended their lead. Joona Toivio and Pukki were both denied by the woodwork.

Greece opened their campaign with slim 1-0 victory over Estonia in Tallinn. A typically cagey affair in which both teams seemed worried about how a negative result might affect them moving forward.

Midfielder Kostas Fortounis grabbed the only goal, scoring from a tight angle following a cross from Kostas Mitroglou.

Finland played host to Estonia next and followed secured a second 1-0 victory. The ever reliable Pukki was again the scorer of the game’s only goal in Turku.

The Norwich City striker pounced on a rebound following a Lukáš Hrádecký save to score his 15^th goal for his country in what was another tense affair.

After losing their opening match, Hungary had to do react or face the prospect of relegation. Beating Greece 2-1 was the perfect remedy. After several anxious clashes this game was end to end. The winning goal perfectly summing up the spectacle.

The hosts opened the scoring in Budapest with Roland Sallai getting on the end of a headed pass to comfortably slot home. The lead lasted only three minutes as in 18th minute Greece defender Kostas Manolas levelled with a header.

The game was won just before half-time though as Hungary had several opportunities blocked and saved in a minute of madness before László Kleinheisler scored a stunner from the edge of the box.

Teemu Pukki scored three in three as Finlad topped their group (photo credit: Reuters).

Pukki made it three goals in three games as his injury-time winner in Estonia saw them take a firm grip of the group. The result also meant that the Finns had their third consecutive 1-0 victory.

The hosts worked hard to suppress Markku Kanerva’s side, who had most of the chances. The late winner undid all the Estonian hard graft, but it was of great relief to the away side that had been drawing blanks all night.

In Athens, Greece saw off promotion rivals Hungary getting revenge from their loss in the last match, beating the away side 1-0 thanks to a Mitroglou strike.

The result saw the hosts close the gap on Finland to just three points. The game itself offered little until Mitroglou powered his way through the Hungarian defence to win the match.

The most exciting match of this group saw Estonia lose their late lead to end up drawing 3-3 with Hungary. The free-flowing match saw the home side Estonia score first on the 20^th minute through winger Siim Luts. That was only the start of the chaos that would follow.

Four minutes later Hungary equalised. Dominik Nagy scored from the edge of the box. Adam Szalai then gave the away side the lead from close range though Estonia would fight back and make it 2-2 by the 71st minute through a Máté Pátkai own goal.

The final 11 minutes saw both sides score. Estonia thought they’d won the game when Henri Anier gave his side the lead only to have Szalai equalise with a header, crushing the host’s dream of winning their first match in a frustrating campaign.

Finland then oversaw a 2-0 victory over Greece in Tampere. The hosts were dealt a setback, though, with the game just 12 minutes old as talisman Pukki limped off. His absence didn’t deter the robust Finnish team, though as second half strikes from Pyry Soiri and former Arsenal academy player Glen Kamara finished Greece off.

The Greeks got some retribution in Athens as they knocked off the Finns 1-0. Lukáš Hrádecký pushed Dimitrios Pelkas’s shot onto defender Albin Granlund in the 25th minute netting the game’s only goal.

Hungary then beat Estonia 2-0 in Budapest after riding early pressure that saw their goalkeeper deny Madis Vihmann whose header almost fell to a team-mate.

RB Leipzig defender Willi Orban then put his side 1-0 up following a corner as his bullet header powered past Aksalu in the Estonian net. Captain Szalai rounded off the scoring in the 70^th minute.

Estonia were finally able to celebrate a win in the group beating Greece 1-0 in Athens. Despite the hosts dominating it would be an own goal from Vasilis Lampropoulos that would win it.

Finland lost for the second successive game as Hungary saw them off 2-0. Szalai gave his side the lead in the 29th minute through a delightful placed shot following Zsolt Kalmár’s classy back-flick.

The win was confirmed in the 37th minute as Ádám Nagy got on the end of a loose ball and got to the edge of the box before letting fly. The ball took a huge deflection off Jesse Joronen before landing in the Finland net.

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