International Success For Forssell And Taylor

Last updated : 01 March 2006 By Brian Cartlidge
Northern Ireland: Maik Taylor


Taylor kept goal for Northern Ireland in their international friendly against Estonia in Belfast.

Hibernian striker Ivan Sproule scored the only goal of the game after just two minutes at Windsor Park to give Ireland their first international friendly home success since 1998.

Taylor completed the full ninety minutes of the game.

Northern Ireland 1-0 Estonia



Finland: Mikael Forssell

Having been rested for their first game against Kazakhstan on Tuesday night, Blues striker Mikael Forssell was named in the starting line-up for Finland's second game of the Cyprus FA Tournament against Belarus.

The Finns came from two goals down to draw 2-2, with Forssell scoring the all-important equaliser seconds before the final whistle. Aki Riihilaati had reduced the deficit to 2-1 on 82 minutes.

Finland won the resulting penalty shoot-out 5-4.

Finland 2-2 Macedonia