Nea Lehtola, who scored two goals, praised the Helmarii: “As individuals, we raised our level”

Helmarien there was one big factor in the top game: the noise of the home crowd. Having scored two goals Nea Lehtolan according to the audience’s support whipped the Helmarei into an energetic performance.

“We had talked about everyone putting everything on the line today,” Lehtola said.

It was visible in the last match of the World Cup qualifying group, where Portugal was a complete opponent. The opponent was amazed and rattled with Finland’s aggressive game. Helmarit hit the first and second balls, defended from high and quickly hit the opponent’s back when the opportunity arose.

“Our attitude was right. As individuals, we raised our level and won duels in areas where we needed to. We got into the opponent’s penalty area as a team.”

Helmarit’s most important goal, i.e. the group win and promotion to the A League of the Nations League, was not achieved when Helmarit won by only two goals. A three-goal win would have brought the group win. However, Helmarit had secured his place in the autumn World Cup further qualifiers.

Lehtolan according to Portugal was clearly not ready for Helmari’s tactics. It was noticed during the opening period when Portugal’s head coach Francisco Neto tried to correct his team’s game by shouting from the sideline. In the opening period, it did not succeed yet.

Lehtola played a somewhat perfect game and scored two goals. It was helped by the fact that he had to be moved from winger to midfield when Katariina Kosola was suspended.

“It was nice to play higher up the field. Yesterday in training I hit a few times, and today I continued from that. I had confidence.”

“I think we get confidence from the fact that we were able to play well against Portugal.”

Portugal is the twelfth best European country in the world list. It’s not usual for Finland to be able to score a two-goal home win.

The head coach Marko Saloranta according to him, Helmarit, coached by him, has last played just as well in the EC tournament.

“Tough was the measure. The Portuguese team has a superstar In NazarethChampions League winner. We didn’t guard him in any way, but it was known what he would do.”

According to Saloranta, hardly anyone outside the team believed that Helmarit would be fighting for the group win on Tuesday.

“The first goal was a perfect example of the character of the team. Nazareth was on its back after losing a duel. We took the ball, and we put it in the goal, and then Nazareth took the yellow for it.”

“Every one of our players believed we were going to win. The game was in our control. It seems crazy to say that the 3-1 win was disappointing. We had ten quality chances in the first period.”

Saloranta’s tactics could also be praised for the good performance.

“With the team, we made tactics, and in addition to that, we needed the players to believe in the tactics.”

The World Cup qualifiers continue in the fall.