League

Kuokkala Stadion
Spectators: 6100 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 100) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Petteri Jämsänen made the kick off which started today's match. Kuokkala's Petteri Jämsänen got a good chance for a goal in the 3rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Ali Grönholm had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 7th minute, Pauli Hernesniemi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 9 minutes into the game, Venejärvi IFK's Ali Grönholm nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jouko Kortelainen made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. The supporters of Kuokkala booed when Venejärvi IFK was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kaj Korkeamäki didn't get a good kick on the ball. In a very dangerous position, a player in Venejärvi IFK fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 13th minute. Penalty! The referee gave Kuokkala a penalty, 14 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Nuutti Malmivaara, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Venejärvi IFK's Visa Holappa. 1-1. 24 minutes had been played when some careless play by Kuokkala's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tapani Okkonen was slow to take the kick. During this time Venejärvi IFK's players had a chance to rest. If Jyrki Peltonen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Visa Holappa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Petteri Jämsänen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Jyrki Peltonen's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jouko Kortelainen was relentless in the 35th minute of the game. After 39 minutes Kuokkala's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tapani Okkonen who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Venejärvi IFK's Tapani Okkonen to fire away a dangerous shot which Jouko Kortelainen despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 43rd minute, Ali Grönholm left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Venejärvi IFK fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. Petteri Jämsänen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Visa Holappa having to interfere. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

In the 52nd minute, Tarmo Rinne ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Visa Holappa was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. When Petteri Jämsänen fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Kuokkala's protests and gave Petteri Jämsänen a yellow card for diving instead. After 55 played minutes Kuokkala got a freekick which was hit by Petteri Jämsänen. A collision led to Venejärvi IFK getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Kaj Korkeamäki hit a great ball. When Kuokkala's Petteri Jämsänen in the 67th minute got a chance for a shot 67th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venejärvi IFK's goalie prevented a goal. When the match clock showed 73 minutes, the score became 2-4 when Ali Grönholm sped through Kuokkala's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Jouko Kortelainen. Ali Grönholm could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 78th minute of the match, but Jouko Kortelainen made a huge save. Jyrki Peltonen might have been able to make a better finish in the 79th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jouko Kortelainen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Jyrki Peltonen ran back to his position shaking his head. Jouko Kortelainen made a fantastic save in the 81st minute, when Ali Grönholm sent off a good shot on target. Petteri Jämsänen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Visa Holappa having to interfere. If Jyrki Peltonen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jouko Kortelainen made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ali Grönholm in the 89th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Venejärvi IFK's zone, Petteri Jämsänen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Visa Holappa came out of the goal and Petteri Jämsänen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Visa Holappa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tarmo Rinne in the 95th minute of the match. Venejärvi IFK'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.