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WATCH: Superb Pukki assist as City striker helps Finland earn victory
Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki helped Finland to beat Armenia Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki celebrated his Championship Player of the Season nomination with an influential role in Finland’s win in Armenia this evening.
The striker has played a pivotal role for the Finns in recent years, helping them win their Uefa Nations League group last year to guarantee at least a qualifying play-off place for the 2020 European Championship.
Regular qualification began with a 2-0 defeat in Italy on Saturday night, in which City’s top scorer went close to an equaliser before being taken off in the 83rd minute.
But the Finns bounced back with a 2-0 win in Armenia, with the 28-year-old playing the full 90 minutes and creating the opening goal in the 14th minute.
Pukki pushed forward but played a classy back-heel to Robin Lod, who then slipped him into the right side of the box, only for the home keeper to deny the striker’s shot – but Fredrik Jensen slid in at the back post to turn in the rebound.
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The assist came on the same evening that nominations for the 2019 EFL Awards were announced, with the former Brondby and Celtic man up for the Championship Player of the Season award and in the Team of the Season alongside two of his Canaries team-mates.
MORE: Canaries trio named in Championship Team of the Season – but Farke is snubbed as manager
It was a 71st cap for Pukki, who has 15 international goals on his CV, who can now turn his attentions back to Norwich duty and a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday evening.
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• Watch a video of the goal above
