League Play-Off

Keskis Stadion
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Tero Rantamäki kicked off to start the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Juha-Pekka Hietalahti during the 4th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 4th minute, Juha-Pekka Hietalahti hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jarkko Tähtinen, 5 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Iivari Alin hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. Hannu Kukkamäki received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Jussi Kiviranta tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Dalsbruk's Jussi Kiviranta got control of the ball when Iikka Laitila tried to sneak it across the goal line. Risto Suutarinen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Seppo Karalahti in the 29th minute of the match. When Iikka Laitila came up free with the goalie in the 32nd minute, the FC Nator 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 Iikka Laitila couldn't finish the play. Dalsbruk's Jussi Kiviranta proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 33rd minute of the match, managed to save Dalsbruk from getting a goal against them. Iikka Laitila sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Hannu Kukkamäki sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Risto Suutarinen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tero Rantamäki, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Hannu Kukkamäki came up free with the goalie in the 41st minute, the FC Nator 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 Hannu Kukkamäki couldn't finish the play. If Iikka Laitila had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 45 minutes into the match, FC Nator's goal looked a bit too open when Tero Rantamäki came free, but Risto Suutarinen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

After 57 played minutes, Dalsbruk's Jouko Urholin shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Risto Suutarinen 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 Dalsbruk reached it. Tero Rantamäki received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Risto Suutarinen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Hannu Kukkamäki fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jussi Kiviranta having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Dalsbruk's Joona Koskenkorva got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Tero Rantamäki might have been able to make a better finish in the 68th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Risto Suutarinen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tero Rantamäki ran back to his position shaking his head. Dalsbruk's Jussi Kiviranta played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hannu Kukkamäki in the 71st minute of play. Aku Taipale's late challenge caught a FC Nator's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Aku Taipale helped the player get up and apologised. After 74 played minutes Dalsbruk got a freekick which was hit by Aku Taipale. After 75 played minutes, FC Nator's Jarkko Tähtinen shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Jussi Kiviranta 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 FC Nator reached it. After having played for 83 minutes, Hannu Kukkamäki managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC Nator's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hannu Kukkamäki was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Hannu Kukkamäki fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jussi Kiviranta having to interfere. Seppo Karalahti sent away a hard shot on goal in the 88th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 91 minutes into the game, Tero Rantamäki recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Risto Suutarinen. Tero Rantamäki showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-2. With an all-out effort, Dalsbruk's Risto Suutarinen threw himself towards the right post 97 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Tero Rantamäki, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Dalsbruk eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.