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A poor second-half performance saw Wales lose 2-1 in Finland to finish fourth in World Cup qualifying Group 4.

Starting the match five points behind third-placed Finland, Wales needed to win, dispose of Liechtenstein and trust Germany to beat the Finns in their final match.

Despite an impressive first half in which Craig Bellamy levelled Roni Porokara's opener, John Toshack's injury-weakened side faded badly and allowed Stuart Baxter's team to pass them into submission, defender Niklas Moisander grabbing the winner.

Finland started the brightest and took a deserved early lead when Porokara tapped into an empty net after Jonatan Johansson skinned Ashley Williams and forced a good save from Wayne Hennesey.

The hosts continued to pass rings around a young Welsh side, decimated by injuries and with only four on the bench after the late withdrawal of Rob Earnshaw.

But on 17 minutes Wales levelled with a classic counter that highlighted their pace going forward and Finland's wooden legs at the back.

David Vaughan raced down the left, leaving Petri Pasanen for dead and drilling in a beautiful low ball for the sliding Bellamy to knock into the bottom left.

Pasanen went close when he headed Joonas Kolkka's corner just over, but the goal had given the Welsh renewed confidence and they looked more dangerous than their hosts in the second quarter.

Skipper Bellamy wasted an excellent chance to put his side ahead on 26 minutes, but he fired weakly at Juusi Jaaskelainen after he was released by a superb Simon Church pass.

Church had a chance of his own to score but, after Bales direct run and cross, the Reading striker could only glance the ball off the side of his head and away from goal.

Jari Litmanen (pictured left), aged 38, showed some glimpses of quality and should have done better when he lofted a shot well over after a one-two with Roman Eremenko.

The second half did not pan out as Wales would have hoped. Finland, older and less mobile, should have tired but their experience told.

Bellamy picked up a needless booking for dissent that rules him out of the final qualifier against Liechtenstein as his team ran out of ideas.

There was a clear chance for substitute Kasper Hamalainen to put the Finns in front on 70 minutes but, after a mix-up between Lewin Nyatanga and James Collins put him through, Hennessey matched his low finish with a superb save.

Wales' hopes of pipping Finland to third and improving their ranking faded when Finland took the lead four minutes later.

Shambolic defending from Wales, with Collins and Gunter at fault, allowed left-back Moisander to ghost unchecked into the box and toe-poke the ball across Hennessey into the bottom right.

Wales needed two goals in a quarter of an hour but, with Bellamy struggling with a knock and the rest of the team lacking experience and muscle, they were under the cosh in the latter stages as Chris Gunter, Williams and Bale all made goal-saving interceptions with Finland pushing for a third.

David Edwards (right) missed a glorious chance for an injury-time equaliser but could only fire straight at Jaaskelainen after Vokes's flick-on sent him clean through and Finland held on for a deserved win.

The result means that Wales cannot finish higher than fourth, while the Finns secured third but cannot qualify as they are four points behind second-placed Russia.

Reda MAHER / Eurosport