Spain vs. Finland: World Cup Qualifying Live Score, Highlights, Recap

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Finland produced a great performance to hold World and European champions Spain to a 1-1 draw in Gijon.

The visitor's plan was clear from the start: Defend.

It worked admirably in the first half too, La Roja huffed and puffed but were reduced to long range shots against one bank of four and another of five.

On his 100th cap for his country though, Sergio Ramos headed Spain 1-0 up early in the second half.

From there it looked like being another easy win for Vicente Del Bosque's men, except there was to be a final twist.

With 10 minutes remaining, Finland countered and a cross from the left was turned in by Teemu Pukki to earn his side a share of the points.

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier: El Molinon, Gijon, Spain

Spain 1-0 Finland (Ramos - Pukki) (2nd half)

Spain: Valdes; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Cazorla (Pedro); Silva, Fabregas (Mata), Villa (Negredo)

Finland: Maenpa; Moisander, Toivio, Ring, Raitala; Arkivuo, Tainio (Sparv); Hamäläinen, R.Eremenko, Hetemaj; Pukki (Halsti)

5:35 PM ET

And that is that! Finland hold on for a draw!

Full time in Gijon: Spain 1-1 Finland.

5:34 PM ET

93 - Finland break! But some tired legs mean they can't capitalize on a good position in Spain's defensive third.

5:33 PM ET

92 - Nothing to report yet. It's desperate from Spain though.

5:32 PM ET

Three minutes added.

5:31 PM ET

90 - Frustrations boil over and there's about 10 players clashing in the box! Spain clearly upset not to be winning.

It was all born from an Iniesta cross which led to a scramble which ultimately saw Maenpaa claim the ball.

5:30 PM ET

89 - Another chance for Negredo! His flicked effort ricochets of Maenpaa for a corner though, into the 90th minute now and there's unlikely to be much time added on.

5:28 PM ET

87 - Time running out for Spain and a chance for Negredo! The Ball's lifted into the area and the Sevilla forward heads wide.

5:26 PM ET

85 - Ramos lashes wildly at the ball and sees his strike from 20 yards veer miles to the left. Possession stats on Spain's Telecinco have just suggested La Roja have had 84 percent of the ball.

5:23 PM ET

82 - Pique goes close with a header, Finland survive. Meanwhile, VDB is up and prowling the technical area - just under 10 minutes for La Roja to try and win this. Or could there be a sucker punch?

5:21 PM ET

79 - It didn't look likely, but it's happened! Finland have equalized against the run of play. Teemu Pukki times his run brilliantly to stroke a cross from the left. 1-1.

5:19 PM ET

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL DE FINLAND!

5:17 PM ET

76 - Spain make their last change - Chelsea's Juan Mata replaces Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas.

5:14 PM ET

72 - Teemu Taino has been replaced by Tim Sparv for Finland.

5:11 PM ET

71 - Inside the last 20 minutes now, Finland don't look particularly threatening yet. However, a 1-0 lead can prove precarious.

5:06 PM ET

65 - Negredo replaces Villa.

5:05 PM ET

64 - Ramos with another chance! Fabregas' sort corner is taken short, swung into the box and then headed over.

He's banged his head in the process though - now receiving treatment.

5:03 PM ET

62 - David Villa blazes a free kick over the bar while over on the bench, Alvaro Negredo is receiving his last instructions.

5:01 PM ET

60 - Finland do attack now though... Pukki's shot is dragged a good distance wide though.

5:00 PM ET

Now *that* is a high defensive line. It's been like this all game too: this isn't a one-off photo. yfrog.com/nvns8xvj
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) March 22, 2013

58 - This next tweet goes some way to explaining why we haven't seen many Finland attacks...

4:58 PM ET

57 - Ramos close to a second! This time the Real Madrid defender tried his luck from 30 yards out, his low driven effort is marginally wide though.

4:57 PM ET

What a way to mark your centenary! Sergio Ramos (Spain) 1-0 v Finland 101greatgoals.com/gvideos/sergio…
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) March 22, 2013

4:57 PM ET

56 - Cesc Fabregas bundled over in the penalty are. No spot kick given though. Hard to tell on first viewing whether there was much in it.

4:55 PM ET

53 - Chants of "OLE" are serenading every pass at El Molinon now. With that first goal out the way, Spain already seem more relaxed. Will Finland come at them now? Or leave it until the last 10 minutes, hoping they can keep it at 1-0?

4:51 PM ET