League

Pihlajavaara
Spectators: 7728 (Terracing: 5800, Seating: 1778, VIP seats: 150) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Yrjänä Palenius took the kick off in the first half of the match. Niko Rimpilä sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 13th match minute, Pihlajavaara was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Erkki Rantanen to maneuver through the defense. After 13 played minutes, Westbay FF's Leif Nylund shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Juhana Leino came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Westbay FF reached it. When Kaleva Forss fell near the penalty area in the 22nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Pihlajavaara's protests and gave Kaleva Forss a yellow card for diving instead. In the 22nd minute, Kaleva Forss hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Veli Kivi struck a weak shot in the 23rd minute. Juhana Leino didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Westbay FF. In the 24th minute, Pekka Jokela hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Yrjänä Palenius had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Westbay FF's zone, Tauno Reimari stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rainer Palonen came out of the goal and Tauno Reimari tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Tauno Reimari was extremely unlucky when he, in the 31st minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. 34 minutes into the game, Arvi Salermo was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Westbay FF's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Pihlajavaara the free kick. A collision led to Westbay FF getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Arvi Salermo hit a great ball. Yrjänä Palenius fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rainer Palonen having to interfere. Tauno Reimari came free with the goalkeeper in the 37th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Rainer Palonen could save by the left post. If Tauno Reimari had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 41st minute, Erkki Rantanen managed to get in a good position for a shot. Pihlajavaara's supporters rose to their feet, but Erkki Rantanen was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rainer Palonen breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Roope Lätti to make the kick off. Juhana Leino made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roope Lätti in the 52nd minute of play. Juhana Leino took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Roope Lätti, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 61 minutes into the match, Pihlajavaara's goal looked a bit too open when Roope Lätti came free, but Juhana Leino reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Juhana Leino showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Roope Lätti, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. When Vilhelm Strömberg fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Pihlajavaara's protests and gave Vilhelm Strömberg a yellow card for diving instead. After 80 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Pihlajavaara! Roope Lätti sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Roope Lätti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.