November 18, (THEWILL) – Greece recorded a 2-0 victory against Finland in Helsinki during their UEFA Nations League Group B2 encounter, yet fell short of automatic promotion to League A. The win proved insufficient as England’s triumph over the Republic of Ireland maintained their position at the group summit.
The visiting Greek side dominated the opening exchanges, with Christos Tzolis creating an early opportunity in the eighth minute. His deflected shot led to a corner, from which Konstantinos Mavropanos directed a header over the crossbar, setting the tone for a first half marked by Greek control but limited clear-cut opportunities.
The deadlock broke six minutes after the interval when Konstantinos Koulierakis provided a precise pass to Anastasios Bakasetas, who struck the ball past Jesse Joronen. The advantage doubled within five minutes as Tzolis capitalised on Joronen’s miscalculated clearance, expertly placing the ball into an unguarded net.
Finland’s performance reflected their challenging campaign, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the match. Their forwards, including Teemu Pukki and Benjamin Kallman, managed only deflected attempts, culminating in their relegation to League C for the first time since the competition’s inception.
Greece concluded their campaign with 15 points and four consecutive away victories, each producing exactly two goals. Despite this impressive record, England’s parallel success meant the Greeks must now pursue promotion through the play-offs, while Finland’s winless run extends beyond eight months.
