March 29 2009

Shefki Kuqi

Crystal Palace striker SHEFKI KUQI netted for Finland in their 2-0 win over Wales.

Finland were already a goal up through Jonatan Johansson when KUQI leapt off the bench with just a minute to go in place of former Eagles frontman Mikael Forssell.

And the burly forward made an instant impact by sealing his country's victory in stoppage time by latching on the end of Roman Eremenko's pass to finish under Wayne Hennessey.

Carl Fletcher, who is currently on loan at Palace's Championship rivals Plymouth, played the first 64 minutes of the match. The result meant Finland overtook Wales to move into third place in Group Four behind Germany and Russia

KUQI, 32, said: "I spoke to our national team manager before the friendly we had in Portugal last month. He said I would be playing in this qualifier because he wants to use my experience and because I know a lot of the Welsh players.

"And although we knew we would be playing against a good team with good players, it’s great for me I’ve managed to play for my club and get a few goals.

"We know it is a tough group and it will be very difficult to qualify. Realistically you are not going to get many points from Germany and Russia, but that does not stop you trying to nick something.

"You have to remember that it can be done because we were leading Germany three times and got a 3-3 draw."