Litmanen controls first-half for Finland

HT: Finland 0 Republic of Ireland 1

Robbie Keane tapped home one of the easiest goals of his career to give Ireland an interval lead over Finland in Helsinki tonight.

With the home defence waiting in vain for an offside flag, Damien Duff ran onto Mark Kinsella’s pass and squared for his striking partner to tap into an empty net from barely six yards.

Litmanen has been frozen out of the first team picture at Anfield but was the pivot for all the home side's early attacking ventures, Charlton's Jonatan Johansson darting into the box only to be pulled back for handball.

Robbie Keane did well to leap above Jari Ilola’s flying late tackle but still won the free-kick, although Damien Duff could not get himself on the end of Ian Harte’s in-swinging long ball.

Butler had enough confidence to cut in from the left wing and shoot, although Jussi Jaaskelainen saved easily.

The youngster might have done better shortly afterwards when Keane nodded back another Harte free-kick. Mark Kinsella challenged inside the box but when the loose ball fell to Butler he elected to take a touch instead of shooting first time and eventually curled his effort wide.

Finland were fairly robust in defence, Janne Saarinen blocking Keane’s path as the Leeds man attempted to dribble clear.

However, Keane had more luck on his next foray forward, tapping home his 14th international goal after 12 minutes.

He probably will not have had many easier either as Finland waited in vain for an offside flag when Kinsella looped a pass into the box.

Duff seized possession and squared across the six-yard area to Keane who stroked into an empty net.

Litmanen tried to cajole his team into action and almost released Teemu Tainio with a brilliant ball over the Irish defence but Dean Kiely reacted quickly to gather.

Harte nodded away a Litmanen cross before Cunningham slid in to deny Ilola space inside the area.

From Mika Nurmela’s corner, Kolkka rose highest and bulleted a firm header towards goal, but again Kiely was positioned well to save.

Kiely then collected Nurmela’s first-time shot after a wayward Gary Breen clearance had fallen to the Finnish midfielder.

The Charlton keeper was fully extended after 27 minutes when McAteer lost possession inside the home half. Finland countered quickly and Litmanen produced a wicked curling effort from the corner of the area which Kiely turned round at full stretch.

Gary Kelly needed treatment after landing awkwardly trying to head Ilola’s cross away, and Ireland needed the break as the Finns enjoyed the best period of the match.

The impressive Butler went on a mazy run through midfield, although he lost possession before he could do any real damage.

Ilola blazed over from Litmanen’s pass before Finland almost gifted their visitors a second, Petri Pasanen knocking an aimless pass to Keane, who couldn’t finish from an acute angle.