Having earned a narrow 1-0 triumph in Malta on Friday, Friis' side couldn’t have dreamed of a better start against Lithuania.
Finland needed just four minutes to break the deadlock, with Kaan Kairinen slotting home from close range after Joel Pohjanpalo’s initial effort was blocked.
Buoyed by the early opener, the visitors doubled their lead in the 17th minute when Pohjanpalo coolly converted from the spot following a clumsy challenge from Edvinas Girdvainis in the box.
Faced with a two-goal deficit inside 20 minutes, Lithuania desperately searched for a route back into the contest as the first half progressed. However, Lukas Hradecky stood firm in the visitors’ goal, denying Armandas Kučys and Edgaras Utkus in quick succession.
The hosts continued to look dangerous in the final third, and after Gvidas Gineitis and Kučys saw further efforts saved by Hradecky, a goal duly arrived six minutes before HT, as Kučys drilled a clinical finish inside the near post from 12 yards.
Lithuania looked to build on their momentum at the start of the second period, but despite seeing plenty of the ball, clear-cut chances came at a premium.
Nevertheless, Edgaras Jankauskas’ men refused to take their foot off the gas with time ticking into the final 25 minutes, and their persistence was soon rewarded when Gineitis powered a sublime long-range strike into the corner beyond Hradecky.
That moment of brilliance set up a fascinating finale, with both sides going in pursuit of a late winning goal.
Substitute Benjamin Källman spurned a good headed chance from inside the six-yard box for Finland, but that was ultimately as close as either team came to snatching all three points as Lithuania’s poor record in WCQ extended to just two wins from their last 20 outings (D4, L14).
Finland, meanwhile, maintain their unbeaten start to WCQ after six defeats in succession to end 2024.