Lithuania fought back from 2-0 down to earn a well-deserved 2-2 draw against Finland in an enthralling FIFA World Cup qualifier (WCQ), ending the Trispalves' miserable eight-game losing streak in all competitions and spoiling Jacob Friis' perfect start as Finland coach.

After a narrow 1-0 win in Malta on Friday, Friis' side couldn't have hoped for a better start against Lithuania.

It took Finland just four minutes to break the deadlock, Kaan Kairinen firing home from close range after Joel Pohjanpalo's initial shot was blocked.

Buoyed by the early opener, the visitors doubled their lead in the 17th minute when Pohjanpalo coolly converted from the spot after Edvinas Girdvainis had been fouled in the area.

Faced with a two-goal deficit inside 20 minutes, Lithuania spent the rest of the first half desperately trying to find a way back into the game. However, Lukas Hradecky stood firm in the visitors' goal, denying Armandas Kučys and Edgaras Utkus in quick succession.

The home side continued to look dangerous in the final third, and after Gvidas Gineitis and Kučys had further efforts saved by Hradecky, the goal finally arrived six minutes before half-time when Kučys unleashed a clinical finish from 12 yards inside the near post.

Lithuania looked to build on their momentum at the start of the second period, but despite seeing plenty of the ball, clear-cut chances were few and far between.

Nevertheless, Edgaras Jankauskas's men refused to let up as time ticked away in the final 25 minutes, and their persistence was soon rewarded when Gineitis unleashed a sublime long-range effort over Hradecky and into the corner of the net.

The moment of brilliance set up a thrilling finale, with both sides chasing a late winner.

Substitute Benjamin Källman spurned a good header from inside the six-yard box for Finland, but that was as close as either side came to claiming all three points as Lithuania's poor WCQ record extended to just two wins from their last 20 matches (D4, L14).

Finland, meanwhile, maintained their unbeaten start to the WCQ after six consecutive defeats.