League Play-Off

Skaftkärr Stadion
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Eevert Lahikainen made the kick off which started today's match. Mauri Jussilainen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 6th minute, Reko Pitkänen got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Paavo Niinimäki showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Reko Pitkänen, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Reko Pitkänen in the 11th minute of play forced FC Vehmainen's goalkeeper Paavo Niinimäki to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 15th minute, Reko Pitkänen got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 18th minute Petri Joensuu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paavo Niinimäki saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Reko Pitkänen in the 19th minute of play forced FC Vehmainen's goalkeeper Paavo Niinimäki to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Paavo Niinimäki made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mauri Jussilainen in the 22nd minute. 24 minutes into the match, Skaftkärr's Mauri Jussilainen sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Paavo Niinimäki narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 25th minute, Skaftkärr's Reko Pitkänen ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Paavo Niinimäki. Paavo Niinimäki yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Paavo Niinimäki was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Reko Pitkänen showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 2-0 in the 28 minute of play. Paavo Niinimäki made a fantastic save in the 30th minute, when Mauri Jussilainen sent off a good shot on target. Reko Pitkänen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Paavo Niinimäki tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 37 minutes into the match, FC Vehmainen's goalkeeper Paavo Niinimäki had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mauri Jussilainen. When Mauri Jussilainen came up free with the goalie in the 38th minute, the Skaftkärr 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 Mauri Jussilainen couldn't finish the play. Paavo Niinimäki made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Reko Pitkänen in the 40th minute of play. With his leg Paavo Niinimäki managed to avoid a goal in the 41stth minute, when Skaftkärr's Mauri Jussilainen fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. FC Vehmainen's Paavo Niinimäki proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 43rd minute of the match, managed to save FC Vehmainen from getting a goal against them. The crowd rose to their feet as Reko Pitkänen kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Paavo Niinimäki. That made the score 3-0 in the 46 minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-0 at half-time.

In the 51st minute Reko Pitkänen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paavo Niinimäki saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Eevert Lahikainen fell near the penalty area in the 52nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored FC Vehmainen's protests and gave Eevert Lahikainen a yellow card for diving instead. Oiva Pietikäinen kicked well hit freekick during the 55th minute of the match. Mauri Jussilainen scored 4-0 in the 59th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Paavo Niinimäki, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Skaftkärr's Mauri Jussilainen got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Mauri Jussilainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Eevert Lahikainen recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Paavo Niinimäki stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Mauri Jussilainen's shot from short distance in the 70th minute. If Reko Pitkänen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Reko Pitkänen recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The Skaftkärr fans' excitement grew in the 90th match minute when Skaftkärr's Reko Pitkänen looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 6-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Oiva Pietikäinen hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. After 95 minutes of play, Skaftkärr's Reko Pitkänen made it 7-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Paavo Niinimäki was left in no man's land by his defense there!