Finland maintain their impressive form in qualifying but Portugal take the promotion place

Conceding two goals after the 90th minute in the opening group match away in Vizela back in March was what ultimately cost Finland top spot. While their 4-0 away victory in Slovakia last Friday kept them three points adrift of Portugal and boosted their goal difference to +7, a 5-0 thrashing of Latvia by the Portuguese gave them a +15 goal difference, meaning Finland needed to win by four goals.

Marko Saloranta's side gave themselves every chance when Adelina Engman set up Nea Lehtola to open the scoring in the 12th minute. However, the Helmarit's hopes were all but dashed just before the half hour mark when a free kick from Kika Nazareth sailed past everyone in a packed penalty area and nestled into the bottom corner.

Nevertheless, heading into the play offs with another win was the main objective for the home side. They regained the lead two minutes into the second half through Lehtola's second goal of the game, assisted by Oona Siren.

Finland then sealed a deserved victory 11 minutes from time when Olga Ahtinen laid on a pass for Eva Nystrom to make it 3-1 and deny Portugal a perfect record in the group.

Both sides now head into the World Cup play offs in October, with Portugal as a seeded team and Finland unseeded in Path 2 for the first of two rounds of matches. A place at Brazil 2027 is the ultimate prize.