Finland 0-1 Russia: Aleksey Miranchuk scores only goal in Euro 2020 Group B game

Finland 0-1 Russia: Aleksey Miranchuk scores only goal in Euro 2020 Group B game

Russia secured their first win of Euro 2020 with a hard-fought victory over Finland in St Petersburg.

Aleksey Miranchuk put the hosts ahead in first-half injury time with a fine, curling finish, despite being surrounded by defenders.

Finland would have qualified for the last 16 with a win and thought they had opened the scoring, but Joel Pohjanpalo's header was ruled out for offside.

The result leaves both sides on three points before their final Group B matches on Monday.

Finland, competing in their first major finals, won 1-0 against Denmark on Saturday in a match overshadowed by Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsing on the pitch.

Before Wednesday's game, all the Finnish squad wore T-shirts saying 'Get well Christian'.

Eriksen is currently recovering in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

_118950998_finland.jpgAll the Finland squad members wore T-shirts saying 'Get well Christian' as a gesture of support for Denmark's Christian Eriksen

Pohjanpalo scored the only goal in Finland's opener and thought he had his second goal of the tournament when he got between two Russian defenders to head in following Jukka Raitala's excellent cross inside three minutes.

However, with the help of the video assistant referee, Pohjanpalo was ruled to be marginally offside and the goal was disallowed.

Russia then had the best chances but Magomed Ozdoev headed over and put another opportunity wide, and only superb defending from Jere Uronen denied substitute Viacheslav Karavaev.

But the hosts got a deserved goal when Miranchuk, surrounded by four visiting defenders, managed to shift the ball onto his left foot and curl an effort past Lukas Hradecky.

Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki had a rare chance for Finland in the second half but could only shoot tamely at Russia goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.

The hosts continued to look the more likely of the two sides to score, but Aleksandr Golovin and Rifat Zhemaletdinov both narrowly missed the target and Daler Kuzyayev had a shot saved.

What's next?

The last round of group matches takes place at 20:00 BST on 21 June with Russia against Denmark in Copenhagen and Finland meeting Belgium in St Petersburg.

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Player of the match

KamaraGlen Kamara

Line-ups

Finland

Formation 5-3-2

1Hrádecky

22Raitala4Toivio2Arajuuri3O'Shaughnessy18Uronen

8Lod11Schüller6Kamara

10Pukki20Pohjanpalo

1Hrádecky22RaitalaSubstituted forSoiriat 75'minutes4ToivioSubstituted forJensenat 84'minutes2Arajuuri3O'ShaughnessyBooked at 90mins18Uronen8Lod11SchüllerSubstituted forKaukoat 67'minutes6KamaraBooked at 22mins10PukkiSubstituted forLappalainenat 75'minutes20Pohjanpalo

Substitutes

5Väisänen9Jensen12Joronen13Soiri14Sparv17Alho19Kauko21Lappalainen23Jaakkola24Valakari25Ivanov26Forss

Russia

Formation 3-4-2-1

16Safonov

8Barinov3Diveev14Dzhikiya

2Figueira Fernandes7Ozdoev11Zobnin23Kuzyaev

15Al Miranchuk17Golovin

22Dzyuba

16Safonov8BarinovBooked at 27mins3Diveev14DzhikiyaBooked at 88mins2Figueira FernandesSubstituted forKaravaevat 26'minutes7OzdoevBooked at 34minsSubstituted forZhemaletdinovat 61'minutes11Zobnin23Kuzyaev15Al MiranchukSubstituted forMukhinat 85'minutes17Golovin22DzyubaSubstituted forSobolevat 85'minutes

Substitutes

1Shunin4Karavaev5Semenov6Cheryshev9Sobolev10Zabolotny12Dyupin19Zhemaletdinov21Fomin24Evgeniev25Makarov26MukhinReferee:Danny MakkelieAttendance:24,540

Live Text

Match ends, Finland 0, Russia 1.

Second Half ends, Finland 0, Russia 1.

Attempt missed. Rifat Zhemaletdinov (Russia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Alexander Sobolev.

Daniel O'Shaughnessy (Finland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Alexander Sobolev (Russia) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Daniel O'Shaughnessy (Finland).

Attempt missed. Paulus Arajuuri (Finland) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Daniel O'Shaughnessy with a headed pass following a set piece situation.

Georgi Dzhikiya (Russia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Georgi Dzhikiya (Russia).

Pyry Soiri (Finland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Attempt missed. Roman Zobnin (Russia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Vyacheslav Karavaev.

Dimitri Barinov (Russia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Joni Kauko (Finland).

Substitution, Russia. Maksim Mukhin replaces Aleksey Miranchuk.

Substitution, Russia. Alexander Sobolev replaces Artem Dzyuba.

Substitution, Finland. Fredrik Jensen replaces Joona Toivio.

Roman Zobnin (Russia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Joni Kauko (Finland).

Offside, Russia. Vyacheslav Karavaev tries a through ball, but Artem Dzyuba is caught offside.

Offside, Finland. Lassi Lappalainen tries a through ball, but Pyry Soiri is caught offside.

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