League Play-Off

Red Bull Arena
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Isaac Selänne got the match started through his kick off. 9 minutes into the match, Heimola FC's goalkeeper Ensio Vähäsalo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Visa Junkka. A collision led to New York Red Bulls getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Tapani Siren hit a great ball. Ensio Vähäsalo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eerikki Saarinen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Eerikki Saarinen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 26 minutes into the match, Heimola FC's goalkeeper Ensio Vähäsalo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Visa Junkka. In the 26th minute, New York Red Bulls's Visa Junkka ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ensio Vähäsalo. Ensio Vähäsalo yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-1. After some fancy dribbling in the 37th minute, Eerikki Saarinen managed to get in a good position for a shot. New York Red Bulls's supporters rose to their feet, but Eerikki Saarinen was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ensio Vähäsalo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eerikki Saarinen stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 62 played minutes Heimola FC got a freekick which was hit by Tobias Hujanen. When the match had gone on for 64 minutes, Eerikki Saarinen put it in 3-2 from a short distance just to the right of Ensio Vähäsalo. Eerikki Saarinen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. New York Red Bulls's Paavo Kaukomaa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 70th minute of the match, managed to save New York Red Bulls from getting a goal against them. Isaac Selänne received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Paavo Kaukomaa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Eerikki Saarinen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Ensio Vähäsalo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Visa Junkka had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luukas Erkkilä could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 87th minute of the match, but Paavo Kaukomaa made a huge save. After having played for 88 minutes, Isaac Selänne managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Heimola FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Isaac Selänne was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.