League

Sulkulahti
Spectators: 7621 (Terracing: 5818, Seating: 1783, VIP seats: 20) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Petri Puistola got the match started through his kick off. Vihtori Lydman 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. 5 minutes into the match, Venetheitto IFK's Petri Puistola sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Valdemar Litja narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Venetheitto IFK's zone, Mika Kaven stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eetu Kuki came out of the goal and Mika Kaven tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sami Äijälä received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Eetu Kuki tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 11 minutes into the match, Venetheitto IFK's goal looked a bit too open when Sami Äijälä came free, but Eetu Kuki reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Vihtori Lydman struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Valdemar Litja didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venetheitto IFK. When Petri Puistola came up free with the goalie in the 19th minute, the Venetheitto IFK 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 Petri Puistola couldn't finish the play. Petri Puistola sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 23rd minute, Petri Puistola 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. Paul Karjala hit a great freekick 24 minutes into the match. Valdemar Litja showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Petri Puistola, who was totally free with the ball in the 25th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Petri Puistola in the 38th minute of play forced Sulkulahti's goalkeeper Valdemar Litja to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 40 minutes, Vihtori Lydman managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venetheitto IFK's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vihtori Lydman was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, Sulkulahti's Einari Paajanen got a free kick in the 41st minute. Sulkulahti's Valdemar Litja played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Petri Puistola in the 42nd minute of play. Eetu Kuki took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sami Äijälä, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Petri Puistola fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Valdemar Litja having to interfere.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Sami Äijälä stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Kaleva Aalto kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. Valdemar Litja stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Petri Puistola's shot from short distance in the 54th minute. Venetheitto IFK's Eetu Kuki played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sami Äijälä in the 61st minute of play. In the 64th minute, Rikhard Hana made a precise shot to the right of Eetu Kuki. Venetheitto IFK's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. Valdemar Litja took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Petri Puistola, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Sami Äijälä in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Eetu Kuki saved Venetheitto IFK from getting behind. Vihtori Lydmans short, quick shot in the 74thth minute got Valdemar Litja to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After 75 played minutes Sulkulahti got a freekick which was hit by Rikhard Hana. Vihtori Lydman's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Valdemar Litja read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 77th minute of play. Mika Kaven fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eetu Kuki having to interfere. Sulkulahti's Valdemar Litja proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 85th minute of the match, managed to save Sulkulahti from getting a goal against them. After 88 minutes, Reino Lajunen mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venetheitto IFK and the Sulkulahti players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Venetheitto IFK's Veikka Huhtiniemi got a free kick in the 94th minute. Many of Venetheitto IFK's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Venetheitto IFK may have spent more time on the ball, but Sulkulahti were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.