<p>Conceding twice after the 90-minute mark in the opening game of the group away in Vizela in March was what ultimately cost Finland top spot, and while their 4-0 away win in Slovakia last Friday kept them three points behind Portugal and improved their goal difference to +7, a 5-0 rout of Latvia by the Portuguese gave them a +15 goal difference, meaning Finland had to win by four.</p><p>Marko Saloranta's side gave themselves every chance by <strong>taking the lead in the 12th minute when Adelina Engman provided for Nea Lehtola</strong>, but <em>Helmarit </em>hopes were all but ended just before the 30-minute mark, when <strong>a free-kick from Kika Nazareth evaded everyone</strong> in a crowded penalty area and nestled in the bottom corner.</p><p>Nonetheless, heading into the play-offs with another win was the main objective for the home side, who went ahead again <strong>two minutes into the second half through Lehtola's second of the game</strong>, provided by Oona Siren.</p><p>And Finland capped off a worthy victory 11 minutes from time when <strong>Olga Ahtinen teed up Eva Nystrom to make it 3-1</strong> and deny Portugal an 100% record in the group.</p><p>Both sides now head into October's play-offs for the World Cup, where Portugal will be a seeded team and Finland an unseeded for Path 2 in the first of two rounds of matches, with a place at Brazil 2027 the ultimate prize.</p><p><strong>Review all the Women's World Cup qualifiers on Flashscore.</strong></p>