A last-gasp goal in time added on at the end of the game by Birmingham City 17-year old winger Karen Carney gave England a dramatic opening day victory at the Women's Euro 2005 at the City of Manchester Stadium before a record crowd for a competitive women's football match in Europe.
Hope Powell's side, leading by two goals at the interval, seemed to have thrown away two vital points as Finland's Laura Kalmari equalised just a minute from time, but Carney produced a world class finish to snatch victory.
An opening day victory meant England top Group A with Sweden and Denmark locked at 1-1in the other group fixture at Bloomfield Road.
The game started in scrappy fashion, but as both sides settled the level of play improved with Arsenal's Kelly Smith and Carney giving England the edge over their opponents.
Finland were lucky in the 14th minute as a floated Smith cross was cleared for a corner as England began stepping up their attack.
Just four minutes later it was Carney's turn to launch an assault on the Finland goal, tricking her way past two defenders before being upended.
Carney, herself, took the freekick which was cruelly deflected by the Finnish goalkeeper Satu Kunnas on to captain Sanna Valkonen before the ball ended up crossing the goal line.
England were growing in confidence but were rocked in the 25th minute, when midfielder Anne Makinen sent a lobbed header over keeper Jo Fletcher and unluckily saw the ball come back into play off the bar.
Star play-maker Makinen then went close with a 34th minute header as the Finns looked to draw level.
But England regained control and Smith was again at the heart of the action as the lead was doubled five minutes before half-time.
The striker ran through the centre of the defence before unleashing a 20 yard drive that thudded off the underside of the bar, leaving Barr with the chance to loop a header over Kunnas and just beyond the reach of the keeper as she tried to haul the ball back from across the line.
As play moved into stoppage time Smith, who else, tried an audacious 30 yard effort that flew past Kunnas but also wide of the far post.
But that was the last seen of the Arsenal player as she was replaced at half-time by substitute Emily Westwood.
With Smith out of the action England lost their flow and came under increasing pressure as the Finns grabbed the initiative.
They cut the lead in the 57th minute, winger Anna-Kaisa Rantanen skilfully guiding home an 18-yard shot from Makinen's neat pass.
An intense spell of Finnish pressure followed but Fletcher stood firm, the keeper remaining calm behind her defence and making some vital catches as a series of dangerous crosses were swung into the danger area.
After weathering the storm England broke out to create several good openings but without being able to put the ball in the net.
Captain Faye White's header was hooked clear by Jessica Julin, Carney's free-kick was tipped over the bar by Kunnas then substitute Eni Aluko was twice denied by the keeper, who first dived at the striker's feet in the 83rd minute then seconds later pushed her 15-yard cross shot for a corner.
Those misses looked set to count dear when, in the 89th minute, striker Laura Kalmari headed in Makinen's cross for the equaliser.
But as play moved beyond the minutes Carney grabbed the glory, lifting a 15-yard shot into the roof of the net after Aluko's effort had been blocked, and England took the points on a dramatic evening at the City of Manchester Stadium.
England: Jo Fletcher - Birmingham City; Alex Scott - Birmingham City, Faye White - Arsenal (Lindsay Johnson - Everton, 85), Mary Phillip - Arsenal, Rachel Unitt - Everton; Katie Chapman - Charlton Athletic, Kelly Smith - Arsenal (Emily Westwood - Wolves, 45), Fara Williams - Everton; Karen Carney - Birmingham City, Amanda Barr - Birmingham City (Eniola Aluko - Charlton Athletic), Rachel Yankey - Birmingham City.
Subs not used: Jody Handley - Everton, Rachel Brown - Everton, Casey Stoney - Charlton Athletic, Vicky Exley - Doncaster Rovers Belles, Anita Asante - Arsenal, Leanne Hall - Fulham.
Finland: Satu Kunnas; Evelina Sarapaa, Tina Salmen, Sanna Valkonen, Petra Vaelma; Jessica Thorn (Minna Mustonen 74), Jessica Julin, Anne Makinen, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen; Laura Kalmari, Heidi Kackur (Sanna Talonen 81).
Subs not used: Virva Junkarri, Heidi Ahonen, Sanna Malaska, Terhi Uusi-Luomalahti, Linda Lindqvist, Heidi Lindstrom, Noora Hannele Matikainen.
Referee: Gyöngyi Gaal (HUN)
Assistants: Blazenka Logarusic (CRO) and Irina Mirt (ROM)
Fourth official: Dagmar Damkova (CZE)
A last-gasp goal in time added on at the end of the game by Birmingham City 17-year old winger Karen Carney gave England a dramatic opening day victory at the Women's Euro 2005 at the City of Manchester Stadium before a record crowd for a competitive women's football match in Europe.
Hope Powell's side, leading by two goals at the interval, seemed to have thrown away two vital points as Finland's Laura Kalmari equalised just a minute from time, but Carney produced a world class finish to snatch victory.
An opening day victory meant England top Group A with Sweden and Denmark locked at 1-1in the other group fixture at Bloomfield Road.
The game started in scrappy fashion, but as both sides settled the level of play improved with Arsenal's Kelly Smith and Carney giving England the edge over their opponents.
Finland were lucky in the 14th minute as a floated Smith cross was cleared for a corner as England began stepping up their attack.
Just four minutes later it was Carney's turn to launch an assault on the Finland goal, tricking her way past two defenders before being upended.
Carney, herself, took the freekick which was cruelly deflected by the Finnish goalkeeper Satu Kunnas
Finland keeper Satu Kunnas, deceived by the trajectory of Carney's low strike towards the near post, could only divert the ball against central defender Sanna Valkonen and the rebound trickled over the goal line.
Smith, continuing to produce some special moments of skill, then set up midfielder Fara Williams for an 18-yard chip which sailed wide of the far post.
England were growing in confidence but were rocked in the 25th minute, when midfielder Anne Makinen sent a lobbed header over keeper Jo Fletcher and unluckily saw the ball come back into play off the bar.
Star play-maker Makinen then went close with a 34th minute header as the Finns looked to draw level.
But England regained control and Smith was again at the heart of the action as the lead was doubled five minutes before half-time.
The striker ran through the centre of the defence before unleashing a 20 yard drive that thudded off the underside of the bar, leaving Barr with the chance to loop a header over Kunnas and just beyond the reach of the keeper as she tried to haul the ball back from across the line.
As play moved into stoppage time Smith, who else, tried an audacious 30 yard effort that flew past Kunnas but also wide of the far post.
But that was the last seen of the Arsenal player as she was replaced at half-time by substitute Emily Westwood.
With Smith out of the action England lost their flow and came under increasing pressure as the Finns grabbed the initiative.
They cut the lead in the 57th minute, winger Anna-Kaisa Rantanen skilfully guiding home an 18-yard shot from Makinen's neat pass.
An intense spell of Finnish pressure followed but Fletcher stood firm, the keeper remaining calm behind her defence and making some vital catches as a series of dangerous crosses were swung into the danger area.
After weathering the storm England broke out to create several good openings but without being able to put the ball in the net.
Captain Faye White's header was hooked clear by Jessica Julin, Carney's free-kick was tipped over the bar by Kunnas then substitute Eni Aluko was twice denied by the keeper, who first dived at the striker's feet in the 83rd minute then seconds later pushed her 15-yard cross shot for a corner.
Those misses looked set to count dear when, in the 89th minute, striker Laura Kalmari headed in Makinen's cross for the equaliser.
But as play moved beyond the minutes Carney grabbed the glory, lifting a 15-yard shot into the roof of the net after Aluko's effort had been blocked, and England took the points on a dramatic evening at the City of Manchester Stadium.
England 3-2 Finland, Women's Euro 2005, Manchester, 05 June 2005
England: Jo Fletcher - Birmingham City; Alex Scott - Birmingham City, Faye White - Arsenal (Lindsay Johnson - Everton, 85), Mary Phillip - Arsenal, Rachel Unitt - Everton; Katie Chapman - Charlton Athletic, Kelly Smith - Arsenal (Emily Westwood - Wolves, 45), Fara Williams - Everton; Karen Carney - Birmingham City, Amanda Barr - Birmingham City (Eniola Aluko - Charlton Athletic), Rachel Yankey - Birmingham City.
Subs not used: Jody Handley - Everton, Rachel Brown - Everton, Casey Stoney - Charlton Athletic, Vicky Exley - Doncaster Rovers Belles, Anita Asante - Arsenal, Leanne Hall - Fulham.
Finland: Satu Kunnas; Evelina Sarapaa, Tina Salmen, Sanna Valkonen, Petra Vaelma; Jessica Thorn (Minna Mustonen 74), Jessica Julin, Anne Makinen, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen; Laura Kalmari, Heidi Kackur (Sanna Talonen 81).
Subs not used: Virva Junkarri, Heidi Ahonen, Sanna Malaska, Terhi Uusi-Luomalahti, Linda Lindqvist, Heidi Lindstrom, Noora Hannele Matikainen.
Referee: Gyöngyi Gaal (HUN)
Assistant referee: Blazenka Logarusic (CRO) and Irina Mirt (ROM)
Fourth official: Dagmar Damkova (CZE)
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Attendance: 29,092