Northern Ireland 3 Finland 3:MARTIN PATERSON'S 84th-minute penalty earned Northern Ireland an entertaining draw in a see-saw friendly encounter against Finland at Windsor Park.
Shane Ferguson and Paterson opening their international accounts and the returning Kyle Lafferty underlining his importance with his ninth senior strike.
Northern Ireland were 2-0 ahead after a bright start but two goals in as many minutes from Tim Sparv and Teemu Pukki, followed by an unstoppable second-half free-kick from Perparim Hetemaj, left them needing Paterson’s late intervention.
As Michael O’Neill’s tenure began with 3-0 and 6-0 defeats by Norway and Holland something positive was required here needed.
Olympiacos goalkeeper Roy Carroll was recalled in place of Lee Camp for his first start in six years and Chris Baird, Chris Brunt and Lafferty made their first appearances for O’Neill.
Finland put together the first coherent move of the match, Roman and Alexei Eremenko linking well in midfield but unable to produce a final ball.
Northern Ireland’s first chance resulted in the opener after seven minutes. Rangers’ Dean Shiels battled for the ball down the right channel and saw his deflected pass across goal fall for Ferguson.
The ball took a bounce off the Newcastle man, who then showed superb technique to lash home a powerful left-footed shot at the near post.With 19 minutes gone, the hosts were two ahead through Lafferty.
This time Finland were able to respond in kind, taking just three minutes before Kari Arkivuo’s cross was expertly headed home by a straining Sparv. Having pulled one back, the visitors drew level just two minutes later, Pukki benefited from some poor defending.
Northern Ireland nearly began the second half with a goal, Ryan McGivern galloping down the left flank and picking out Shiels, who took a touch before pushing his shot across the face of goal.
Finland got their third when McGivern was penalised for a foul 20 yards out and Hetemaj sent a rocket of a free-kick in off the upright. The late penalty rescued O’Neill’s side, Steven Davis surging towards the area and teeing up substitute Paterson.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll (Camp 46), Hodson (Norwood 84), Cathcart, McAuley, McGivern, Brunt (Ward 46), Baird, Davis, Ferguson (Carson 84), Shiels, Kyle Lafferty (Paterson 63). Subs not used: McPake, Little, Danny Lafferty, Clingan, Grigg, Mannus.
FINLAND: Maenpaa, Uronen, Toivio, Arkivuo, Moisander, Roman Eremenko, Hamalainen (Hetemaj 69), Sparv, Alexei Eremenko (Kolehmainen 69), Pukki (Riski 46), Kuqi (Sjolund 84). Subs not used: Sillanpaaa, Ojala, Vayrynen, Furuholm, Halsti, Porokara.
Referee: Richard Liesveld (Holland).
