League

Eräslahti
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) New York Red Bulls's Jani Henriksson 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. After a rather tough play, Eräslahti IFK's Valdemar Tuomisalo got a free kick in the 2nd minute. In the 6th minute, Vilppu Ryynänen left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The New York Red Bulls fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Orvo Penttilä fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paavo Kaukomaa having to interfere. After having played for 14 minutes, Ilkka Nurminen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Eräslahti IFK's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ilkka Nurminen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 15 played minutes New York Red Bulls got a freekick which was hit by Jaakkima Jokela. Paavo Kaukomaa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Orvo Penttilä in the 16th minute of play. In the 22nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Eräslahti IFK's goalkeeper Lari Kurri, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Eerikki Saarinen blasted a shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Lari Kurri having to make a save. After a defensive mix-up in New York Red Bulls's zone, Ilkka Nurminen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Paavo Kaukomaa came out of the goal and Ilkka Nurminen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Eräslahti IFK booed when New York Red Bulls was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ohto Lähtelä didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 36th minute Kosti Rintala 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. Eräslahti IFK's Lari Kurri played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jani Henriksson in the 40th minute of play. After having played for 41 minutes, Vilppu Ryynänen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. New York Red Bulls's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vilppu Ryynänen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After the first half New York Red Bulls were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Orvo Penttilä stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Eräslahti IFK's defense didn't have a chance, in the 54th minute, when Jaakkima Jokela scored to the left of an out of position Lari Kurri, making the score, 0-2. Orvo Penttilä struck a weak shot in the 57th minute. Paavo Kaukomaa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Eräslahti IFK. In the 59th minute, Ilkka Nurminen 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ilkka Nurminen in the 62nd 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. Jere Pasoja's late challenge caught a New York Red Bulls's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jere Pasoja helped the player get up and apologised. In the 70th minute, one of Eräslahti IFK:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Eräslahti IFK. In the 72nd minute there was a penalty for New York Red Bulls. Niklas Ojanen stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Lari Kurri. 0-3. Vilppu Ryynänen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lari Kurri having to interfere. In the 81st minute the ball was on its way in behind Eräslahti IFK's goalkeeper Lari Kurri, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 83 minutes, Kosti Rintala mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Eräslahti IFK and the New York Red Bulls players grew even worse after the yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 82nd minute of the game. One of Eräslahti IFK:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of New York Red Bulls:s goal. Ilkka Nurminen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paavo Kaukomaa having to interfere. When Eräslahti IFK's Orvo Penttilä in the 90th minute got a chance for a shot 90th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye New York Red Bulls's goalie prevented a goal. In the 91st minute Valdemar Tuomisalo suffered a foot injury and had to be helped off the field. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jaakkima Jokela during the 91st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Jaakkima Jokela kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 93rd minute, Ilkka Nurminen managed to get in a good position for a shot. Eräslahti IFK's supporters rose to their feet, but Ilkka Nurminen was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Paavo Kaukomaa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Ilkka Nurminen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ilkka Nurminen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Paavo Kaukomaa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 98th match minute, New York Red Bulls was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jaakkima Jokela to maneuver through the defense. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. New York Red Bulls had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.