League Play-Off

Palikkala
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joakim Leinonen made the kick off which started today's match. Nikolai Numminen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joakim Leinonen in the 4th minute of play. Vilho Koskela showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pertti Salmela in the 6th minute of the match. Kaleva Luhtio struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. Vilho Koskela didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Koivunkylä IFK. After a rather tough play, Koivunkylä IFK's Voitto Hagelberg got a free kick in the 10th minute. If Ilkka Ahola had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 16 minutes, Lassi Äijälä mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Palikkala IFK and the Koivunkylä IFK players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Palikkala IFK's Lassi Äijälä got a free kick in the 16th minute. Samuel Vapaniemi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Vilho Koskela tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 24th minute Kaleva Luhtio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vilho Koskela saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Pertti Salmela in the 28th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Vilho Koskela prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Voitto Hagelberg hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Koivunkylä IFK's Nikolai Numminen got control of the ball when Ilkka Ahola tried to sneak it across the goal line. 33 minutes into the match, Koivunkylä IFK's goal looked a bit too open when Joakim Leinonen came free, but Nikolai Numminen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 40th minute, Samuel Vapaniemi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ilkka Ahola got free with Nikolai Numminen in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 45th match minute, Koivunkylä IFK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ahti Kurri to maneuver through the defense. Nikolai Numminen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Niilo Karjalainen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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.

The wind increased when Pertti Salmela made the kick off in the second half. After 55 played minutes, Palikkala IFK's Leevi Saksinen shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Nikolai Numminen 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 Palikkala IFK reached it. In the 59th minute of the match Ahti Kurri sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Vilho Koskela skillfully saved the ball. Joakim Leinonen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nikolai Numminen having to interfere. If Joakim Leinonen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 70th match minute, Palikkala IFK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lassi Äijälä to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, Koivunkylä IFK's Ahti Kurri tried to score from far away in the 71st minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Pertti Salmela received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Vilho Koskela tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Palikkala IFK getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Kaarle Santahuhta hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Palikkala IFK's Lassi Äijälä got a free kick in the 81st minute. Palikkala IFK's Vilho Koskela played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pertti Salmela in the 84th minute of play. Kaleva Luhtio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vilho Koskela having to interfere. The Palikkala IFK supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Koivunkylä IFK's performance. The match ended with a win for Koivunkylä IFK.