League

Red Bull Arena
Spectators: 7845 (Terracing: 5885, Seating: 1804, VIP seats: 156) New York Red Bulls's Eerikki Saarinen started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 3rdth minute of the game Atso Kangaskorpi who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but New York Red Bulls's Paavo Kaukomaa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Mika Kaipainen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eerikki Saarinen in the 4th minute of the match. After 6 played minutes New York Red Bulls got a freekick which was hit by Ohto Lähtelä. Paavo Kaukomaa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Atso Kangaskorpi in the 7th minute of play. 15 minutes into the match, New York Red Bulls's goal looked a bit too open when Atso Kangaskorpi came free, but Paavo Kaukomaa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mika Kaipainen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eerikki Saarinen in the 18th minute of the match. After having played for 19 minutes, Atso Kangaskorpi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. KooTeePee's supporters crossed their fingers, but Atso Kangaskorpi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. KooTeePee's Hemmo Suoraniemi got a good chance for a goal in the 20th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a rather tough play, New York Red Bulls's Jaakkima Jokela got a free kick in the 23rd minute. Atso Kangaskorpi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Paavo Kaukomaa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Atso Kangaskorpi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Atso Kangaskorpi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Paavo Kaukomaa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Atso Kangaskorpi in the 31st minute of play. When Henrikki Palsola came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the KooTeePee fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Henrikki Palsola couldn't finish the play. If Hemmo Suoraniemi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. KooTeePee's Atso Kangaskorpi got a good chance for a goal in the 40th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 44th minute, Hemmo Suoraniemi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the KooTeePee defense, Visa Junkka kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mika Kaipainen. The KooTeePee fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mika Kaipainen should have stopped the shot.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Atso Kangaskorpi was the one to do the kick off. Mika Kaipainen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Visa Junkka in the 58th minute of the match. In the 60th minute Atso Kangaskorpi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paavo Kaukomaa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Atso Kangaskorpi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Paavo Kaukomaa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 65 minutes into the match, Henrikki Palsola had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Paavo Kaukomaa. New York Red Bulls's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Henrikki Palsola was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. Visa Junkka received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Mika Kaipainen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 75thth minute of the game Atso Kangaskorpi who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but New York Red Bulls's Paavo Kaukomaa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Jaakkima Jokela kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Atso Kangaskorpi in the 76th minute of play forced New York Red Bulls's goalkeeper Paavo Kaukomaa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 79th minute, Henrikki Palsola got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 82ndth minute of the game Atso Kangaskorpi who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but New York Red Bulls's Paavo Kaukomaa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Hemmo Suoraniemi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 83rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. KooTeePee's Hemmo Suoraniemi shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 85th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Paavo Kaukomaa but with some difficulty. Henrikki Palsola recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 90th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Atso Kangaskorpis short, quick shot in the 92ndth minute got Paavo Kaukomaa to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 95th minute Atso Kangaskorpi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paavo Kaukomaa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the KooTeePee players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.