Match ends, Northern Ireland U21 2, Finland U21 3.
Northern Ireland U21Northern Ireland U212Finland U21Finland U213
A Paul O'Neill double proved insufficient for Northern Ireland Under-21s to avoid defeat in their European Championship qualifier as they lost 3-2 to Finland on Friday evening.
O'Neill put his side in front from close range in the 28th minute but Timo Stavitski levelled before the interval.
A second for O'Neill restored NI's lead Mikael Soisalo and Nattan Skytta secured victory for the visitors.
It was a fourth defeat of the campaign for NI, who host Ukraine on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland now stand four points adrift of Finland and Ukraine as they occupy fifth position in Group Eight with just one win from eight matches - away to Malta last month.
The NI U21s boast six points, with only Malta below them in the group table.
Finland began the game at Ballymena Showgrounds brightly with Marcus Forss hitting the post from Soisalo's delivery.
But midway through the first half the home side were in front, when Nathan Kerr crossed from the right and Glentoran forward O'Neill poked the ball home at the near post as goalkeeper Hugo Keto got a touch but was unable to keep the ball out.
A minute before the break, Eoin Toal failed to deal with a long ball and Stavitski picked up possession before dispatching a clinical low drive past Conor Hazard.
Just before the hour mark, Daniel Amos crossed from the left and O'Neill provided the flick past Keto which put his side ahead again.
Two minutes later, the Finns were on level terms for a second time as substitute Bobby Burns was unable to control a Jasin Assehnoun crossfield pass and Soisalo finished with a low drive.
The winner came in the 68th minute when Soisalo crossed and 18-year-old sub Skytta slid the ball home - a quality finish from the teenager.
Line-ups
Northern Ireland U21
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Hazard
- 7Kerr
- 2Marron
- 5Toal
- 15Brown
- 3AmosSubstituted forBurnsat 61'minutes
- 18McKiernanBooked at 21minsSubstituted forBonisat 45'minutes
- 8McCalmontBooked at 58minsSubstituted forScottat 79'minutes
- 11Boyd-Munce
- 16Dunwoody
- 10O'Neill
Substitutes
- 4Larkin
- 6Donnelly
- 12Gartside
- 13Burns
- 14Scott
- 17Balmer
- 19Bonis
- 20Scott
- 21Bansal-McNulty
Finland U21
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 12Keto
- 19MaenpaaSubstituted forHyvärinenat 75'minutes
- 14Tihi
- 15Vainionpää
- 3Haukioja
- 16Lingman
- 7SoisaloBooked at 21mins
- 11Simonpoika Valakari
- 18AssehnounSubstituted forAlmenat 90+3'minutes
- 17StavitskiSubstituted forSkyttaat 45'minutes
- 10ForssSubstituted forKällmanat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Jaaskelainen
- 4Almen
- 5Hyvärinen
- 6Hakkinen
- 9Källman
- 13Banza
- 20Skytta
- 21Maenpaa
- 22Atakayi
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthern Ireland U21Away TeamFinland U21
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home0
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home21
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northern Ireland U21 2, Finland U21 3.
Post update
Onni Johannes Simonpoika Valakari (Finland U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Paul O'Neill (Northern Ireland U21).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lucas Lingman (Finland U21) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Benjamin Källman.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Benjamin Källman (Finland U21) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mikael Almen.
Substitution
Substitution, Finland U21. Mikael Almen replaces Jasin-Amin Assehnoun.
Post update
Jasin-Amin Assehnoun (Finland U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Eoin Toal (Northern Ireland U21).
Post update
Juho Hyvärinen (Finland U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Scott (Northern Ireland U21).
Post update
Offside, Finland U21. Martti Haukioja tries a through ball, but Benjamin Källman is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Caolan Boyd-Munce (Northern Ireland U21) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lee Bonis.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lee Bonis (Northern Ireland U21) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Caolan Boyd-Munce with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Finland U21. Benjamin Källman replaces Marcus Forss.
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland U21. Andrew Scott replaces Alfie McCalmont.
Post update
Onni Johannes Simonpoika Valakari (Finland U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul O'Neill (Northern Ireland U21).
Post update
Naatan Skytta (Finland U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ciaron Brown (Northern Ireland U21).
