League Play-Off

Kätkä Stadion
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ari Virta started the match with the kick off. 3 minutes into the game, Kätkä IFK's Raine Paajanen nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Leevi Holtti made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. In the 6th match minute, Kätkä IFK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aarto Kukkamäki to maneuver through the defense. Mehtolä's Matts Lydman got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to Kätkä IFK getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Aarto Kukkamäki hit a great ball. In the 12th match minute, Kätkä IFK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Raine Paajanen to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ari Virta in the 15th minute of play forced Mehtolä's goalkeeper Leevi Holtti to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Matts Lydman in the 18th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Toni Juujärvi saved Kätkä IFK from getting behind. In the 18th match minute, Kätkä IFK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Risto Norrena to maneuver through the defense. Leevi Holtti made a fantastic save in the 25th minute, when Raine Paajanen sent off a good shot on target. Toni Juujärvi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Matts Lydman in the 33rd minute of the match. Ralph Järvinen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Toni Juujärvi tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 39 played minutes Mehtolä got a freekick which was hit by Eschel Penttinen. When Kätkä IFK's Ari Virta in the 45th minute got a chance for a shot 45th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Mehtolä's goalie prevented a goal. 47 minutes into the match, Mehtolä's goal looked a bit too open when Ari Virta came free, but Leevi Holtti reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Matts Lydman made a kick off. Kätkä IFK's Toni Juujärvi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Matts Lydman in the 52nd minute of play. 53 minutes into the game, Kätkä IFK's Raine Paajanen nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Leevi Holtti made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. Mehtolä's Leevi Holtti played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ari Virta in the 60th minute of play. In the 67th minute the ball was on its way in behind Mehtolä's goalkeeper Leevi Holtti, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Manne Hurme fell near the penalty area in the 69th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Kätkä IFK's protests and gave Manne Hurme a yellow card for diving instead. Toni Juujärvi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Matts Lydman, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. In the 73rdth minute of the game Matts Lydman who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Kätkä IFK's Toni Juujärvi was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The supporters of Mehtolä booed when Kätkä IFK was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ari Virta didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 86 minutes, Raine Paajanen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Kätkä IFK's supporters crossed their fingers, but Raine Paajanen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 88thth minute of the game Ari Virta who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mehtolä's Leevi Holtti was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 92nd minute Ari Virta shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leevi Holtti saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Kätkä IFK getting a freekick after 93 minutes play. Risto Norrena hit a great ball. In the 94th minute, Kätkä IFK's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Ralph Järvinen fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 96 minutes into the match, Kätkä IFK's goalkeeper Toni Juujärvi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ralph Järvinen. Kätkä IFK's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.