Greece are on course for a first win of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign after Nikolaos Karelis gave them a 1-0 half-time lead over Finland in Helsinki.

The hosts, looking to build on their comeback victory over the Faroe Islands last month, started brightly as Kari Arkivuo's cross was met by Tim Sparv, who saw his right-footed shot drift wide of the post.

Greece then had a chance to take an early lead when Charalampos Mavrias delivered a pinpoint corner to the feet of Panagiotis Tachtsidis. However, his strike flew over the Finnish crossbar.

Moments later, the Euro 2004 champions squandered another opportunity to break the deadlock when Vasilis Torosidis crossed for Stefanos Athanasiadis, but, with the angle against him, he was unable to test keeper Niki Maenpaa.

The visitors continued to attack and it paid off as Karelis fired Claudio Ranieri's men in front midway through the first half with a low strike into the bottom corner.

Finland tried to respond immediately through Roman Eremenko as the forward brought a save out of Orestis Karnezis, before Arkivuo fired wide soon after.

Written by
Chris O'Keefe