Wales guaranteed play-off place

Wales 1 Finland 1

Ten-man Wales forced themselves into the Euro 2004 play-offs on a night of astonishing tension in Cardiff.

Mark Hughes’ men made life so hard for themselves after taking an early lead through Simon Davies, with Jason Koumas being sent off in the second half for a second yellow card.

They looked frightened of their own destiny and defended and battled, but then allowed Finland into the game.

The fact that Serbia & Montenegro could only draw 1-1 with Italy in Belgrade means that Wales are assured of second spot in Group Nine and a double-header play-off in November.

Finland equalised late on through Mikael Forssell, and Wales’ nerves were really jangling. And news of Serbia’s equaliser only heightened the tension. But Wales clung on and still have Portugal in their sights.

Skipper Gary Speed won his 76th cap – a new record for an outfield player for Wales – and led his country into arguably their most important match for 45 years, since they last qualified for a major finals.

Victory would ensure that Wales qualified for the play-offs in November.

Boss Mark Hughes had his team selection aided when Andy Melville was passed fit for his first game since May after a foot injury and Rhys Weston came into the side at right-back, allowing Simon Davies to move into midfield. Robert Earnshaw replaced the suspended Craig Bellamy.

Wales had promised to attack the Finns from the start, and they could not have had a better start than a goal in the third minute.

Speed’s long ball up to John Hartson was perfectly nodded down into the path of Davies and he was able to stride into the box and drill a low shot into the net past Antti Niemi’s right hand.

But Wales sat back and defended. Finland’s response was a ball played into the path of Mikael Forssell on eight minutes, but the Birmingham loan signing blazed high over the bar.

Wales had got the start they had dreamed of, but seemed unable to force the issue.

The fact that Mark Pembridge had passed a late fitness test was crucial to Hughes’ planning as he was able to push Davies into midfield.

But Finland were allowed to build their play and control possession and the running and battling so essential to Wales’ midfield was lacking.

The Finns continually took advantage of Wales’ uncertainty. And on 32 minutes they were upset with referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez when Mika Nurmela’s edge of the box free-kick looked to hit Koumas on the arm in the area, but the Spanish referee waved away appeals for a penalty.

Wales looked like men fearful of making mistakes and unwilling to move forward at pace. The nearest they came to extending their lead was a 36th minute Ryan Giggs free-kick that Niemi palmed past the right hand post at full stretch.

Finland brought on Juha Reini at the break for Petri Pasanen and a minute into the second half Koumas was booked for a foul on Mika Vayrynen.

Joonas Kolkka moved into space and drove in a shot that Paul Jones saved at the second attempt.

A minute later Jones had to save with his feet when a right wing cross was allowed to curl across the box for Kolkka to hit a shot from eight yards at the Southampton ’keeper.

Janne Saarinen was then cautioned for bringing down Giggs, but the Spanish referee’s next decision was critical for Wales when he showed Koumas a second yellow card for a foul on Aki Riihilahti, followed by the red to bring Wales down to 10 men.

Finland had been in control and now had an extra man. And another booking for Melville for a foul on Forssell did little to lessen the tension.

Weston looked to pull a hamstring on 73 minutes and was replaced by Andy Johnson, with Davies reverting to full-back.

Finland had kept surging forward and equalised on 80 minutes when Kolkka’s cross was headed home by Forssell from eight yards.

Wales then replaced the tiring Hartson with Nathan Blake and Finland replaced Pasanen with Peter Kopteff in the 82nd minute.

Somehow Wales hung on to the draw. Serbia had drawn with Italy so the play--off place was secure.