League Play-Off

Beach stadium
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) FC Rantapallot's Aaro Uitto 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 some fancy dribbling in the 10th minute, Aaro Uitto managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Rantapallot's supporters rose to their feet, but Aaro Uitto was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rauli Virolainen breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 15 minutes into the match, Niva IFK's goal looked a bit too open when Aaro Uitto came free, but Rauli Virolainen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Maunu Palenius took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Taneli Miettinen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 17 minutes of play, Niva IFK's Taneli Pietilä made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Maunu Palenius was left in no man's land by his defense there! Taneli Miettinen 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 31st minute, FC Rantapallot's Aaro Uitto dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Taneli Miettinen might have been able to make a better finish in the 36th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Maunu Palenius. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Taneli Miettinen ran back to his position shaking his head. Taneli Miettinen might have been able to make a better finish in the 36th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Maunu Palenius. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Taneli Miettinen ran back to his position shaking his head. Maunu Palenius showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Taneli Miettinen in the 36th minute of the match. Maunu Palenius showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Taneli Miettinen, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. The audience was convinced that Taneli Miettinen's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Maunu Palenius was relentless in the 42nd minute of the game. 46 minutes into the match, Taneli Miettinen had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Maunu Palenius. FC Rantapallot's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Taneli Miettinen was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Taneli Pietilä made the kick off in the second half. Maunu Palenius made a fantastic save in the 53rd minute, when Taneli Miettinen sent off a good shot on target. Taneli Miettinen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Maunu Palenius having to interfere. Maunu Palenius made an important save on a dangerous shot by Taneli Miettinen in the 60th minute. After a defensive mix-up in FC Rantapallot's zone, Topias Moskuvaara stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Maunu Palenius came out of the goal and Topias Moskuvaara tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Taneli Miettinen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Maunu Palenius having to interfere. FC Rantapallot's Maunu Palenius played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Taneli Pietilä in the 71st minute of play. Kauko Pikkarainen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Rauli Virolainen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of FC Rantapallot booed when Niva IFK was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Taito Hahl didn't get a good kick on the ball. Petteri Ollonen took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 75th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Rauli Virolainen. Niva IFK's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. FC Rantapallot's Maunu Palenius played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Taneli Pietilä in the 78th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Taneli Pietilä's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Maunu Palenius was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. After having played for 81 minutes, Taneli Pietilä managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Niva IFK's supporters crossed their fingers, but Taneli Pietilä was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Heikki Tirkkonen struck a weak shot in the 95th minute. Maunu Palenius didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Niva IFK. 96 minutes into the game, Iivo Kanninen was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FC Rantapallot's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Niva IFK the free kick. In the 96th match minute, FC Rantapallot was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Iivo Kanninen to maneuver through the defense.