Katariina Kosola’s 70th-minute winner saw Finland scrape a 1-0 victory over ten-women Iceland in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament opener.
Kosola curled into the far-top right corner from Eveliina Summanen’s pass in a closely-fought contest.
Iceland however finished a player down after Hildur Antonsdottir was red carded for a 58th-minute off-the-ball foul on Summanen.
Finland now sit top of Group A before Switzerland meet Norway in Basel tonight at 8pm UK Time.
With both teams considered underdogs in Group A, a strong start was imperative in an attempt to find the opening goal but Finland’s Eva Nystrom lost her cool just over three minutes in, as the defender fouled Sandra Jessen.
The set-piece delivery was cleared but a subsequent goalmouth scramble came to nothing after referee, Katalin Kulcsar spotted a foul amidst the chaos.
Ria Oling and Katariina Kosola soon went close for Finland but saw their shots denied, as the game turned cagey due to a mixture of opening-game nerves and the European heatwave in Thun.
Finland however continued to push as Iceland retreated defensively after a bright start, but Oona Siren and Kosola failed to find the accurate final touches to breach Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir’s goal as Iceland held out until half-time.
Iceland showed more fight early in the second half as a long 57th-minute throw fell for Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir but Emma Koivisto blocked her shot with her face, which led to unsuccessful appeals for handball.
Frustration soon boiled over for Antonsdottir barely a minute later as she lashed out at Summanen with a stamp which led to a second booking, and in-turn she was consequently red carded.
Iceland in response mounted a defensive display to frustrate Finland who began to build momentum, until the Finnish eventually found a 70th-minute breakthrough, as Summanen teed up Kosola to cut into space to curl her shot into the far-right corner to break the deadlock.
Iceland nearly restored parity just five minutes later from a long ball up the left met by Sveindis Jonsdottir but she could only bend her shot wide of the goal.
Finland eventually clung on for their first group stage victory since they beat Netherlands 2-1 in their second group match at the 2009 edition, giving them hope of getting out of this group if they can overcome at least one of Norway or Switzerland in their two other group matches.
Teams
Iceland: Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir, Guony Arnadottir, Glodis Viggosdottir (Heidarsdóttir 46′), Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir, Gudrun Arnadottir, Hlin Eiriksdottir (Albertsdottir 54′), Hildur Antonsdottir, Alexandra Johanndottir, Sandra Jessen (Brynjarsdottir 62′), Karolina Lea Vihjalmsdottir (Tryggvadottir 84′), Sveindis Jonsdottir
Substitutes: Agla Maria Albertsdottir, Fanney Birkisdottir, Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Aslaug Munda Gunnlaugsdottir, Hafrun Rakel Halldorsdottir, Saedis Heidarsdóttir, Amanda Andradottir, Natasha Anasi-Erlingsson, Katla Tryggvadottir, Dilja Zomers, Berglind Agustsdottir, Telma Ivarsdottir
Finland: Anna Koivunen, Emma Koivisto (Lehtola 78′), Joanna Tynnila, Eva Nystrom, Natalia Kuikka, Eveliina Summanen (Roth 95′), Oona Siren, Ria Oling (V.Koivisto 95′), Katariina Kosola, Linda Sallstrom (Rantala 78′), Sanni Franssi (Sevenius 66′)
Substitutes: Olga Ahtinen, Nora Heroum, Vilma Koivisto, Heidi Kollanen, Tinja-Riikka Korpela, Nea Lehtola, Jutla Rantala, Maaria Roth, Oona Sevenius, Emmi Siren, Anna Tamminen
