HELSINKI (Interstat) — Finland’s women’s soccer team scored twice in the first half and added a late goal to beat Serbia 3-1 on Friday in the competition opener for both teams. Emma Koivisto opened the scoring in the 28th minute, Lotta Lindstrom doubled the lead in the 36th, and Sanni Franssi restored a two-goal cushion in the 88th after Vesna Milivojevic had pulled Serbia within a goal in the 82nd. Finland improved to 1-0 in this competition and 1-0 across all competitions. Serbia dropped to 0-1 in this competition and 0-1 across all competitions.

Koivisto played all 90 minutes and finished with one goal. Milivojevic also played the full match and scored Serbia’s only goal. Lindstrom went the distance and scored once. Franssi needed only 31 minutes to score. Evelina Summanen played 90 minutes and recorded an assist for Finland. Andjela Frajtovic played 90 minutes and provided an assist for Serbia. Nea Lehtola played 90 minutes and added an assist for Finland.

Finland controlled much of the match and took the lead when Koivisto struck in the 28th. The home side doubled its advantage eight minutes later through Lindstrom. Serbia stayed within reach and made its first substitution in the 33rd minute, bringing on M. Bulatovic. Finland made a change in the 59th minute when A. Engman entered, and R. Oling came on in the 69th. Serbia brought on D. Blagojevic in the 72nd. Milivojevic scored in the 82nd to cut the deficit to 2-1, giving the visitors late hope. Andjela Frajtovic assisted on that goal. Finland answered in the 88th when Franssi scored, with assists earlier in the match from Summanen and Lehtola. Finland’s K. Kosola entered in the 89th minute. The final whistle confirmed a 3-1 win for the home team.

Finland led 2-0 at halftime after goals from Koivisto and Lindstrom. Serbia changed its lineup with the 33rd-minute substitution, but the visitors did not score until Milivojevic’s 82nd-minute goal. That strike made it 2-1 and set up a tense final stretch. Franssi then scored in the 88th minute to restore Finland’s two-goal advantage. Kosola’s late substitution was Finland’s third change of the match. Serbia used two substitutes, with Bulatovic and Blagojevic entering. The game ended soon after Franssi’s goal, and Finland finished with a 3-1 home victory.

The result gave Finland a winning start in the competition and overall. Serbia remained without a win in the competition and across all competitions. Finland’s attack produced three goals, while Serbia managed one. The match featured five substitutions, three by Finland and two by Serbia. The scoring sequence began with Koivisto, continued with Lindstrom, saw Milivojevic respond, and ended with Franssi. Finland’s defense held Serbia to one goal despite the late push. The home team’s lead was never surrendered after the 28th minute.

Serbia’s season record in this competition is now 0 wins and 1 loss. Finland’s season record in this competition is now 1 win and 0 losses. Serbia’s season record across all competitions is now 0 wins and 1 loss. Finland’s season record across all competitions is now 1 win and 0 losses. The match was the first competition appearance of the season for both sides, and it ended with Finland taking the full result. Serbia’s goal came late, but Finland had already built a two-goal advantage and restored it before the end. The visitors could not find an equalizer after Milivojevic’s strike, and Finland added the final goal in the closing minutes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Finland W 1, Serbia W 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Finland W with a 65.3 percent probability to win.