League Play-Off

Sandås Stadion
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Kalevi Lehto made the kick off and thus started the match. Tero Hannukainen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kalevi Lehto in the 11th minute of play. After 14 played minutes Sandås got a freekick which was hit by Kosti Viisala. Niko Reponen's late challenge caught a Variksenkylä FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Niko Reponen helped the player get up and apologised. Niko Reponen kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. Onni Kärnä made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Perttu Vapaniemi in the 26th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Joonatan Ahola in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Onni Kärnä saved Sandås from getting behind. 31 minutes into the match, Joonatan Ahola notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Sandås's Onni Kärnä. Onni Kärnä was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 37 minutes into the match, Sandås's goal looked a bit too open when Joonatan Ahola came free, but Onni Kärnä reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 42 minutes into the match, Sandås's Kalevi Lehto sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tero Hannukainen narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Panu Hulkkonen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Onni Kärnä having to interfere. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Joonatan Ahola made the kick off in the second half. In the 58th match minute, Sandås was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kalevi Lehto to maneuver through the defense. In the 59th minute Joonatan Ahola shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Onni Kärnä saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Timo Toivanen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Variksenkylä FC getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Perttu Vapaniemi hit a great ball. A nice corner shot did that Ari Joensuu got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Tero Hannukainen quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Tero Hannukainen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kalevi Lehto, who was totally free with the ball in the 81st minute. Kalevi Lehto's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Tero Hannukainen read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. Joonatan Ahola received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Onni Kärnä tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Niko Reponen hit a great freekick 96 minutes into the match. Onni Kärnä took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joonatan Ahola, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Variksenkylä FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Variksenkylä FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.