Friendly International :- Wales v Finland

Best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer at a resolution of 800x600 and 16-bit colour.

INFORMATION

Match Report

A disappointing first half display cost Wales at least a draw in front of record 66,500 crowd at the Millennium Stadium.
Mark Crossley won his third cap for Wales after the late withdrawal of Paul Jones with flu. Mark Hughes started the game with a 3-5-2 formation with Nathan Blake and Ryan Giggs up-front. John Robinson and Darren Barnard playing as wing-backs. Robbie Savage returned after missing the Qatar game due to club commitments.

Key moments

First half

3 mins: Forssell ran clean through the heart of the Welsh defence from a Litmanen pass, only for Mark Crossley to make a brave dive at the feet of Forssell to save a certain goal.

20 mins: A left-wing cross by Kolkka that the hesitant Welsh defence failed to clear, landed at the feet Litmanen who rolled the ball home into and empty net.

23 mins: Enckelman dropped a Darren Barnard cross under pressure from Chris Coleman and Gary Speed, but recovered to retrieve the ball.

37 mins: A quick throw-in and a John Robinson cross from the right, landed on Ryan Giggs' head only for him to head wide of the target.

43 mins: A corner from the left-hand side was floated to the near post, Nathan Blake could not direct his clearance away from goal, Mark Crossley pounced but could not get down it time to prevent the ball crossing line.

Half time score Wales..0 Finland..2

Second half

46 mins: A Nathan Blake header was held safely by substitute keeper Moilanen.

48 mins: Mark Pembridge ran down the left, got to the line, but could not pull the ball back, and his shot was hell by the keeper.

57 mins: Another John Robinson cross was met by Nathan Blake, who sent his diving header wide.

60 mins: A Tihinen slip on the right-hand side, allowed Ryan Giggs to race away. He cut inside into the penalty area, took the ball across Hyypia's path, and then drove a low left foot shot inside the keeper's near post.

Full-time score Wales..1 Finland..2

Team line-ups

Wales	Finland
1 Mark Crossley	1 Peter Enckelman
2 John Robinson	2 Juha Reini
3 Darren Barnard	3 Jarmo Saastamoinen
4 Robert Page	4 Sami Hyppia
5 Chris Coleman	5 Hannu Tihinen
6 Andy Melville	6 Aki Rihilati
7 Robbie Savage	7 Mika Nurmela
8 Mark Pembridge	8 Simo Valakari
9 Nathan Blake	9 Mikael Forsell
10 Gary Speed	10 Jari Litmanen
11 Ryan Giggs	11 Joonas Kolkka

Subs
Ward	Moilanen
Saunders	Tuomela
C. Robinson	Helin
Johnson	Tainio
Symons	M. Lehkosuo
G. Roberts	Paatelainen
I. Roberts	Wiss

Match details

Half-time	0-2
Full-time	1-2
Date	29.03.2000
Kick off	7:15pm
Venue	Millennium Stadium
City / town	Cardiff
Attendance	66,500
Referee	Michael Ross (Northern Ireland)

Match facts

to follow.