League Play-Off

Merijärvi
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jari Manninen kicked off to start the match. Heikki Heikkinen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Yrjö Marttila in the 5th minute of the match. Jari Manninen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jari Manninen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Heikki Heikkinen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Merijärvi IFK booed when Autionkyllä FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vilho Reponen didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jouko Kärnä fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Seppo Harjanne having to interfere. Autionkyllä FC's Seppo Harjanne played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jouko Kärnä in the 26th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Autionkyllä FC's Tarmo Tähtinen got a free kick in the 27th minute. After 29 minutes, Vilho Reponen mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Autionkyllä FC and the Merijärvi IFK players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Autionkyllä FC getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Vilho Reponen hit a great ball. In the 34th match minute, Autionkyllä FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vilho Reponen to maneuver through the defense. Autionkyllä FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 35th minute, when Jouko Kärnä scored to the left of an out of position Seppo Harjanne, making the score, 1-0. Hender Kaukomaas short, quick shot in the 40thth minute got Seppo Harjanne to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 42nd minute, Yrjö Marttila ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Heikki Heikkinen was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. Seppo Harjanne made a fantastic save in the 48th minute, when Hender Kaukomaa sent off a good shot on target. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jouko Kärnä to make the kick off. In the 53rdth minute of the game Jari Manninen who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Merijärvi IFK's Heikki Heikkinen was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Merijärvi IFK's Jouko Kärnä got a good chance for a goal in the 58th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Heikki Heikkinen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jari Manninen in the 59th minute of play. A collision led to Merijärvi IFK getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Juha Sivonen hit a great ball. A collision led to Autionkyllä FC getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Eerikki Lahtela hit a great ball. In the 63rd minute of the match Christophorus Lehtonen shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Seppo Harjanne showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Jouko Kärnä fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Seppo Harjanne having to interfere. Yrjö Marttila might have been able to make a better finish in the 67th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Heikki Heikkinen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Yrjö Marttila ran back to his position shaking his head. Merijärvi IFK's Juha Sivonen got his second yellow card of the match in the 71st minute. The referee ordered Juha Sivonen off the ground. A collision led to Merijärvi IFK getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Juha Sivonen hit a great ball. Heikki Heikkinen made an important save on a dangerous shot by Yrjö Marttila in the 73rd minute. Yrjö Marttila sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Autionkyllä FC's Seppo Harjanne played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hender Kaukomaa in the 78th minute of play. Jari Manninen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee gave Merijärvi IFK a penalty, 89 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Christophorus Lehtonen, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Autionkyllä FC's Seppo Harjanne. 2-1. A collision led to Merijärvi IFK getting a freekick after 97 minutes play. Taavi Heino hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Merijärvi IFK had won after a very even match.