League Play-Off

Simpala Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Teppo Vento kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. In the 4thth minute of the game Herman Riippa who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Simpala's Ilpo Heinikangas was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Pekka Ronkainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 14 played minutes Simpala got a freekick which was hit by Tapani Suominen. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Pekko Bruun in the 16th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ilpo Heinikangas prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Mikael Puranen during the 20th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ilpo Heinikangas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Herman Riippa, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. 25 minutes into the game, Verkaperä's Herman Riippa nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ilpo Heinikangas made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. In the 28th minute, Tapani Suominen hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 29 played minutes, Verkaperä's Pasi Vanhatalo shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Ilpo Heinikangas 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 Verkaperä reached it. In the 31st match minute, Verkaperä was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pekko Bruun to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, Simpala's Juhani Haataja tried to score from far away in the 32nd minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. After 33 played minutes Verkaperä got a freekick which was hit by Rieti Koivuniemi. If Miro Sinisalo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 42nd match minute, Simpala was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tapani Suominen to maneuver through the defense. Ilpo Heinikangas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pekka Ronkainen in the 43rd minute of play. With his leg Pellervo Vaakanainen managed to avoid a goal in the 47thth minute, when Simpala's Tapani Suominen fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 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 players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Herman Riippa stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pekka Ronkainen got free with Ilpo Heinikangas in the 53rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Simpala booed when Verkaperä was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ilmo Hahto didn't get a good kick on the ball. Toivo Vähäsavo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pellervo Vaakanainen having to interfere. Pellervo Vaakanainen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Toivo Vähäsavo in the 62nd minute of play. Pekko Bruun hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. In the 69th minute, Verkaperä's Herman Riippa ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ilpo Heinikangas. Ilpo Heinikangas yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-2. Kauto Puikkonen charged in rather forcefully in the 72nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Kauto Puikkonen the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Kauto Puikkonen hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. Simpala's Miro Sinisalo got a good chance for a goal in the 74th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Pellervo Vaakanainen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Miro Sinisalo in the 82nd minute of the match. In the 84th minute, Toivo Vähäsavo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pellervo Vaakanainen was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. After having played for 93 minutes, Toivo Vähäsavo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Simpala's supporters crossed their fingers, but Toivo Vähäsavo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 96 minutes into the match, Miro Sinisalo notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Verkaperä's Pellervo Vaakanainen. Pellervo Vaakanainen was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.