International finished as planned (8)
I believe the answer is:
intended
'planned' is the definition.
(intending is a kind of planning)
'international finished' is the wordplay.
'international' becomes 'int'.
'finished' becomes 'ended' ('ended' can be similar in meaning to 'finished').
'int'+'ended'='INTENDED'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for intended that I've seen before include "Informally one's fiance or fiancee" , "Person engaged" , "Had in mind to" , "Fiancé (e) - on purpose" , "Fianc(e) - proposed" .)