League

Liepo Areena
Spectators: 8433 (Terracing: 6326, Seating: 1939, VIP seats: 168) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Antonio Belfiore made the kick off which started today's match. Atro Kuusela showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Petteri Vuori in the 3rd minute of the match. When the match clock showed 8 minutes, the score became 2-0 when Antonio Belfiore sped through Villmanstrand's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Atro Kuusela. Cyrille Hetzel struck a weak shot in the 10th minute. Jonni Karalahti didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Villmanstrand. Antonio Belfiore received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Atro Kuusela tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to LiPaS getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. Keimo Lönnblad hit a great ball. Antonio Belfiore sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Keimo Lönnblad hit a great freekick 24 minutes into the match. The audience was convinced that Antonio Belfiore's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Atro Kuusela was relentless in the 26th minute of the game. Alvar Kiprusoff fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonni Karalahti having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in LiPaS's zone, Jyrki Korhonen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonni Karalahti came out of the goal and Jyrki Korhonen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Jonni Nylund scored 2-1 in the 32nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Jonni Karalahti, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Jonni Nylund blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jonni Karalahti having to make a save. A collision led to LiPaS getting a freekick after 35 minutes play. Keimo Lönnblad hit a great ball. Antonio Belfiore sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Alvar Kiprusoff was the one to do the kick off. After 50 minutes, Keimo Lönnblad mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the LiPaS and the Villmanstrand players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 50th minute, Keimo Lönnblad hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. LiPaS's Jonni Karalahti played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cyrille Hetzel in the 58th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Antonio Belfiore's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Atro Kuusela was relentless in the 60th minute of the game. Jonni Karalahti took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jonni Nylund, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 65 minutes into the match, LiPaS's goal looked a bit too open when Jonni Nylund came free, but Jonni Karalahti reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpected shot in the 66th minute by Alvar Kiprusoff got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Edvard Strömberg charged in rather forcefully in the 73rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Edvard Strömberg the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After having played for 77 minutes, Miko Haapamäki managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. LiPaS's supporters crossed their fingers, but Miko Haapamäki was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in LiPaS's zone, Jyrki Korhonen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonni Karalahti came out of the goal and Jyrki Korhonen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 85th minute Miko Haapamäki shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Atro Kuusela saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jonni Karalahti showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jonni Nylund, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. After 92 played minutes Villmanstrand got a freekick which was hit by Keimo Heino. When the referee blew the final whistle, LiPaS could leave the field as winners, despite Villmanstrand having more of the ball for most of the match.