International friendlies: Northern Ireland in six-goal thriller

Martin Paterson scores from the spot

A late penalty from Martin Paterson ensured that Northern Ireland salvaged a draw from a match against Finland that they’d looked to have thrown away.

A volley from Shane Ferguson and a close range finish from Kyle Lafferty put the Green and White Army 2-0 up inside 20 minutes at a delighted Windsor Park, only for Michael O’Neill’s side to almost instantly concede goals to Tim Sparv and Teemu Pukki to see Finland draw level.

Perparim Hetemaj’s free-kick 12 minutes from time looked to have won Finland the match, only for the 14-times capped Paterson to pick himself up after being fouled and slot home his first goal for his country from the spot six minutes from time, ensuring that an entertaining match ended 3-3.

There was slightly more cheer for Scotland, as a first international goal for Jordan Rhodes helped them to a 3-1 win over Australia at Hibernian’s Easter Road.

A fine volley from Mark Bresciano gave the Aussies the lead in Edinburgh, only for Huddersfield’s prolific forward Rhodes to head home a Danny Fox cross for the equaliser.

With the teams level at the break, debutant Jason Davidson headed an own goal to put the Scots ahead in the second period, with Ross McCormack clinching victory for 14 minutes from time.

A below-par Wales were well beaten 2-0 by Bosnia-Herzegovina in Llanelli, as boss Chris Coleman lost his first home game in charge.

Joe Allen struck the crossbar for the Welsh in the opening stages, but that would be as good as it got for the home side as goals in either half from Vedad Ibišević and Miroslav Stevanović sealed a deserving win for the Bosnians.

The Republic of Ireland played out a goalless draw against Serbia in Belgrade.

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