Birchall's opener wasted as Wales succumb to sucker punch by Sjolund

A late winner from Liverpool's Danny Sjolund saw Finland triumph 2-1 over a Welsh side that had dominated their European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Valkeakoski yesterday.

Arsenal's Adam Birchall gave Wales a deserved half-time lead, but Pekka Lagerblom grabbed an equaliser after 65 minutes before Wales lost their captain Rhys Day and the hosts grabbed a winner in the dying minutes.

Wales gave six players their debuts, and four with dual qualifications – the goalkeeper Jason Brown, defender Shaun Pejic, midfielder David Vaughan and 17-year-old striker Adam Birchall – were confirmed as Welshmen. Darren Moss and Andy Mumford also made their debuts.

Finland had Liverpool's reserve striker Sjolund and did not field anyone who was under 20, while Wales had two 17-year-olds and several other teenagers in a new-look squad who were no doubt anxious to end a record of not winning at this level for 24 matches, dating back to March 1997.

They were boosted when Birchall, the second youngest player to be fielded by Wales at this level, raced down the right and scored with a chip to the far post late in the first half.

The Welsh had started with spirit. Vaughan fired over after Ari Nyman had missed a header, Matty Williams did likewise after a fine tackle, run and cross from Michael Price and Williams almost got on the end of a Birchall cross. But it needed a fine lunge from Darren Moss in the six yard box on 18 minutes to stop a flick from Henri Scheweleff crossing the line in Finland's first meaningful attack. Day was booked for pulling back the pacy Sjolund as he threatened to elude the Welsh defence.

Wales took the lead after 38 minutes. Williams played a neat ball down the line for Birchall to run after. The young Gunner reached the corner of the box, looked up, and sent a clever cross-shot that cleared the out of position Otto Fredrikson and dropped into the far corner.

A few minutes later Fredrikson had to hurtle from his line to throw himself at Williams' feet as the Manchester United player broke clear.

Birchall's enterprise and determination was causing the Finns trouble. And his dogged refusal to lose possession on 60 minutes ended with a prodded ball into the path of Vaughan, who fired a fierce drive into the chest of Fredrikson.

Then, after 63 minutes, the Swansea midfielder Andy Mumford won possession in midfield and ran on to lash a 20-yarder against the post. But two minutes after that Finland grabbed an equaliser.

Sjolund showed skill and perception on the left to create space for a low cross which was struck fiercely by Lagerblom, and, although Brown got his body in the way, the pace on the shot saw it squirm into the net.

After 69 minutes only a fine flying save from Fredrikson stopped a diving header from Day following a Michael Price free-kick.

Kevin Gall came on for Mumford after 75 minutes and also could have scored three minutes later. But a minute from the end Sjolund grabbed the winner, when Vaughan gave the ball away and Mika Vayrynen's cross was fired in by the Liverpool striker.

Finland Under-21: Fredrikson, Luoma, Haapaniemi, Lindstrom, Nyman, Lagerblom, Haarala, Okkonen, Sjolund, Scheweleff, Innanen. Substitutes: Rahkamaa, Sorja, Myntti, Parviainen, Vayrynen, Mahlakaarto, Makela.

Wales Under-21: Brown, Moss, Price, Pejic, Day, Tolley, Valentine, Mumford, Birchall, M Williams, Vaughan. Substitutes: Rees, Darren Jones, Stock, M Jones, Gall, Byrne, Whitfield.

Referee: A Chykun (Belarus).