Finland take control of World Cup play-off by holding off late Serbia rally

[p]Neither side has previously qualified for a Women's World Cup, and the winner of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/finland-EPXH92YE/serbia-nysgULwS/?mid=jJmjOFVI"]this tie[/a] will still have to overcome either [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belarus/dnzMc6rM/"]Belarus[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/fiD8utDF/"]Italy[/a] for a place in Brazil next year, but it's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/EPXH92YE/"]Finland[/a] who have the upper hand at the halfway point, though they survived a late scare to get the much-needed home win.[/p][p][i]Helmarit [/i]were in control at half-time after [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koivisto-emma/0E0xf0LS/"]Emma Koivisto[/a] turned in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehtola-nea/vaOd9zPR/"]Nea Lehtola[/a]'s corner[/b] in the 28th minute, and less than 10 minutes later [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lindstrom-lotta/4fPioq2D/"]Lotta Lindstrom[/a] scored her fifth international goal[/b] to put Finland 2-0 up.[/p][embed guid="25f39c05-f4aa-472e-959f-052580e095b0" url="https://x.com/HelmaritFI/status/2108608341433864450" social-type="twitter" /][p]Finland still enjoyed plenty of the territory after the break but weren't as clinical, and they were punished for not putting the game to bed when [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/milivojevic-vesna/zii8PQER/"]Vesna Milivojevic[/a] scored for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/serbia/nysgULwS/"]Serbia[/a][/b] eight minutes from time.[/p][p]That goal could have changed the complexion of the tie completely with Serbia hosting the second leg, but the home side held their nerve and a flurry of late chances, which resulted in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/summanen-evelina/82hq01NP/"]Evelina Summanen[/a] finding [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/franssi-sanni/StSZg0oA/"]Sanni Franssi[/a], who slotted home to restore the two-goal cushion.[/b][/p][p]Serbia host the second leg on 13th October.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-cup-women/"]Follow the Women's World Cup play-offs on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]