Finland, a nation popular for distributing timber than distributing balls, proved to be no pushover as Ghana's Black Princess laboured to a 2-1 win in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women's' World Cup in Canada.

The Ghanaian players screamed into the cameras like super stars after the match and celebrated joyfully yet unknowingly until news of Canada's advance along with Korea DPR on goal difference hit the Black Princesses - subduing them into stiff stares like a tranquilizing drug.

The Black Princesses are heading home despite an important win over a gritty Finland team.

But in truth Ghana brought this fate upon themselves. If they had limited their three goal loss against Korea DPR, the team would have made it to the next round, ex- Princess captain Gifty Appiah contributed on GTV's panel discussion.

Wetting the nation's appetite for women's football after an upset win over Canada, the Princesses needed to win this game quite hansomely.

The Black Princess would have harboured hope and relish after they sized up a Finnish side that had lost their two games and only had a pretty dreamy chance of qualification.

And it showed after 15 minutes into the first half, the Ghanaians proved the most potent threat. 7th, 11th, 13th, and 14th minute chances  remained what they were - chances - as the players failed to convert and were kept out by the goal keeper.

Wasila Diwura-Soale failed to convert a golden opportunity from close range for Ghana. Emilia Iskanius was then forced to clear off the line for the Europeans after Diwura-Soale had looked to profit from the goalkeeper’s error. 

Yet every miss or mix-up in front of goal served to empower the Finnish to believe in themselves.

A belief that nearly paid off after a spectacular 19th minute freekick by 10-shirted Heroum shook the crossbar and shook the Ghanaians into rewriting their notes about their opponent's competence in general and their dead ball specialist, Heroum, in particular.

The half ended on a high for Finland after they pinned down the Ghanaians in the last quarter of the 45 minutes.

Natalia Kuikka (front) of Finland is challenged by Sherifatu Sumaila of Ghana

 

When they attacked, you could see a 4-woman midfield wall pushing ahead in unison like a wave. The Finnish resumed their promising play as they run around the pitch with confidence and purpose.

You wondered what could be the motivation for so much Finnish hardwork despite sitting rock bottom in Group A without a point to prove their participation.

Using Ghana's weaker right side, Finland pummeled the Princesses' half until just five minutes into the second half, the jinx broke.

A  Ria Oling's pass to Kemppi who was positioned just outside the 18-yard box, saw her hit a low shot aimed  at the right post - it was too much for goalkeeper Agyei.

MONCTON, NB - AUGUST 12: Juliette Kemppi (C) of Finland celebrates her team's first goal with team mates during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 group A match between Ghana and Finland at Moncton Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Moncton, Canada. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

 

Ghana got desperate, Finland felt freed.

And as the Ghanaians attacked in drones, the back was exposed to counter-attacking football

"You could get the sense that Finland could break away here", the commentator observed.

But Canada hero Sumaila Sharifatu repeated her feat after she guided the ball through the Finnish defence and bundled the ball past the keeper to get Ghana back on level term in the 71st minute.

Finland didn't look too perturbed and it showed after a brave, speculative yet innocuous shot-like lob from the left side, grazed the cross bar.

The Finnish attacker had noticed Ghana keeper's poor positioning

Finland goalkeeper Krista Moisio made a superb point-blank stop from Veronica Appiah and a corner threatened to find its way into the Finnish net as Ghana searched for a winner.

Sherifatu Sumaila (C) of Ghana celebrates her team's first goal

 

But the winner was sitting on the bench.

Jennifer Cudjoe emphasized the importance of perfect substitutions after she came on on the 63rd minute.

But credit must also go to wing back Asante who did great to keep possession while darting long the right wing, She did just enough steadied herself under pressure and noticed Cudjoe ghosting into the 18th yard box.

She teed up a pass, letting  in Cudjoe who, despite the presence of Finnish defender,  passed the ball into the net with a sublimity much like Barcelona's Xavi.

Against popular predictions, Canada had earlier on scored against DPR Korea in the 70th minute tying up with Ghana on six points with a better goal difference.

Ghana needed two more goals, the clock offered four more minutes and some change to the Black Princesses.

Finland have not been known to finish well after suffering a familiar fate when they lost late despite going ahead by  two goals against DPR Korea.

The Black Princesses will feel the anguish of being so close yet two-goals far from making history as the squad to qualify from the group stage  of the U-20 World Cup competition for the first time.