League Play-Off

Karkki Stadion
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, 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. Panu Elovaara started the match with the kick off. 7 minutes into the match, Blacksmith Villagers FC's goal looked a bit too open when Isaac Selänne came free, but Usko Pietikäinen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Heimola FC booed when Blacksmith Villagers FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ari Kärki didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 13 played minutes Panu Elovaara rounded Heimola FC's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-0. In the 22nd minute Panu Elovaara shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ensio Vähäsalo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With an all-out effort, Blacksmith Villagers FC's Ensio Vähäsalo threw himself towards the right post 24 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Jesse Lydman, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 26 minutes into the match, Blacksmith Villagers FC's goal looked a bit too open when Isaac Selänne came free, but Usko Pietikäinen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 28 played minutes Heimola FC got a freekick which was hit by Tobias Hujanen. After a defensive mix-up in Blacksmith Villagers FC's zone, Luukas Erkkilä stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Usko Pietikäinen came out of the goal and Luukas Erkkilä tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 39 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 Salomo Gustafsson. When the match had gone on for 45 minutes, Panu Elovaara took a quick shot and it went in 2-0 without a chance for Ensio Vähäsalo to make any attempt to save it. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Isaac Selänne made the kick off in the second half. In the 57th minute the ball was on its way in behind Blacksmith Villagers FC's goalkeeper Usko Pietikäinen, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Blacksmith Villagers FC's Usko Pietikäinen proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save Blacksmith Villagers FC from getting a goal against them. Ensio Vähäsalo came out of the goal in the 63rd minute to try and stop a shot by Blacksmith Villagers FC's Salomo Gustafsson. But to his dismay, Salomo Gustafsson quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-0. When Luukas Erkkilä came up free with the goalie in the 68th minute, the Heimola FC 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 Luukas Erkkilä couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 70th minute, Isaac Selänne managed to get in a good position for a shot. Heimola FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Isaac Selänne was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Usko Pietikäinen breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Salomo Gustafsson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Ensio Vähäsalo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Eric Väätäinen charged in rather forcefully in the 77th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Eric Väätäinen the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Heimola FC's Eric Väätäinen got a free kick in the 77th minute. Ensio Vähäsalo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Panu Elovaara in the 79th minute of the match. Usko Pietikäinen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Isaac Selänne, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Luukas Erkkilä sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luukas Erkkilä fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Usko Pietikäinen having to interfere. Luukas Erkkilä received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Usko Pietikäinen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. For all the effort they put into the match, the Heimola FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Blacksmith Villagers FC.