League

Virojoki
Spectators: 6934 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1934, VIP seats: 0) Virojoki's Juuso Leonoff started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Manne Roiha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Atso Valtonen's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Esko Niskala was relentless in the 9th minute of the game. With a little luck, Kurdistan-Finland's Rainer Niskanen got control of the ball when Anselmi Timmonen tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Atso Valtonen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 16 minutes into the match, Manne Roiha had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Esko Niskala. Virojoki's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Manne Roiha was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Manne Roiha in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Esko Niskala saved Virojoki from getting behind. In the 30th minute, Juuso Leonoff hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Panu Koivuporras during the 31st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Virojoki's Panu Koivuporras got a free kick in the 31st minute. Esko Niskala took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Manne Roiha, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Manne Roiha in the 39th minute of play forced Virojoki's goalkeeper Esko Niskala to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Virojoki's Panu Koivuporras got a free kick in the 44th minute. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Atso Valtonen was the one to do the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Atso Valtonen in the 56th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Esko Niskala prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 60 minutes into the match, Juuso Leonoff notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Kurdistan-Finland's Rainer Niskanen. Rainer Niskanen was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. When Kurdistan-Finland's Atso Valtonen in the 66th minute got a chance for a shot 66th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Virojoki's goalie prevented a goal. Kurdistan-Finland's Manne Roiha got a good chance for a goal in the 68th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Esko Niskala made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Atso Valtonen in the 70th minute of play. Kurdistan-Finland's Unto Normio was substituted for Jaakkima Etula. In the 80th minute Anselmi Timmonen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rainer Niskanen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Virojoki's Esko Niskala proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 82nd minute of the match, managed to save Virojoki from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Anselmi Timmonen in the 83rd minute of play forced Kurdistan-Finland's goalkeeper Rainer Niskanen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 85th minute Juuso Leonoff shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rainer Niskanen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rainer Niskanen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Juuso Leonoff in the 89th minute of the match. Rainer Niskanen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Juuso Leonoff in the 92nd minute of the match. Rainer Niskanen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Juuso Leonoff, who was totally free with the ball in the 94th minute. After 94 minutes, Otso Torkkeli mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Kurdistan-Finland and the Virojoki players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Virojoki booed when Kurdistan-Finland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Otso Torkkeli didn't get a good kick on the ball. Kurdistan-Finland's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.