League Play-Off

Niemi
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Kerkko Liimatainen started the match with the kick off. Kerkko Liimatainen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Santtu Kunnas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 5 minutes into the match, Niemi's Tero Lehkosuo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jarkko Vihtilä narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Jarkko Vihtilä took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tero Lehkosuo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jarkko Vihtilä showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tero Lehkosuo, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. Kerkko Liimatainen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 20 minutes, Teppo Roiha mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Niemi and the Roparnäs players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 21 played minutes Niemi got a freekick which was hit by Teppo Roiha. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Erno Brinck during the 27th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 28th match minute, Roparnäs was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Erno Brinck to maneuver through the defense. Leif Kalto took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 28th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Jarkko Vihtilä. Roparnäs's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Tero Lehkosuo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Kerkko Liimatainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 41 played minutes, Niemi's Leif Kalto shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Jarkko Vihtilä 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 Niemi reached it. Anton Uitto fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jarkko Vihtilä having to interfere. If Tero Lehkosuo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Tero Lehkosuo was the one to do the kick off. Kerkko Liimatainen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Vilhelm Hevonkorpi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 56th minute, Roparnäs's Kerkko Liimatainen ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Santtu Kunnas. Santtu Kunnas yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-1. 66 minutes into the game, Niemi's Anton Uitto nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jarkko Vihtilä made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. Niemi's Tero Lehkosuo got a good chance for a goal in the 72nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Anton Uitto in the 74th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jarkko Vihtilä saved Roparnäs from getting behind. Jarkko Vihtilä took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tero Lehkosuo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Niemi were awarded a corner in the 88th minute after Roparnäs's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Leif Kalto took the corner. A nice corner shot did that Leif Kalto got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Jarkko Vihtilä quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 90th minute the ball was on its way in behind Roparnäs's goalkeeper Jarkko Vihtilä, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 92nd minute Tero Lehkosuo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jarkko Vihtilä saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Anton Uitto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Jarkko Vihtilä tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Roparnäs players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.