League

Vires Stadium
Spectators: 6792 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1792, VIP seats: 0) Team Vires's Leevi Mikkonen 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. In the 3rd minute Jari Litmanen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Toni Kopola saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jari Litmanen took the ball and in the 7 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Toni Kopola. Toni Kopola dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. After a defensive mix-up in Team Vires's zone, Jari Litmanen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Toni Kopola came out of the goal and Jari Litmanen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 19th minute, Tero Ilola hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 21 minutes, Jari Litmanen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sunderland A.F.C's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jari Litmanen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jyrki Seva sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Eljas Furuholm hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. In the 28th minute, Rainer Peuhkuri 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. 29 minutes into the game, Jari Litmanen cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Toni Kopola was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Sunderland A.F.C's Kauno Pihlman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Leevi Mikkonen in the 33rd minute of play. If Lassi Tammisto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a rather tough play, Team Vires's Lassi Tammisto got a free kick in the 46th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jari Litmanen in the 47th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Toni Kopola saved Team Vires from getting behind. After the first half Sunderland A.F.C were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

51 minutes into the match, Team Vires's goal looked a bit too open when Rainer Peuhkuri came free, but Toni Kopola reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lassi Tammisto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Kauno Pihlman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lassi Tammisto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Kauno Pihlman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jari Litmanens short, quick shot in the 62ndth minute got Toni Kopola to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Toni Kopola didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 65th minute, which inside left pole to 0-3. Rainer Peuhkuri fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Toni Kopola having to interfere. 70 minutes into the match, Team Vires's goalkeeper Toni Kopola had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jari Litmanen. The crowd rose to their feet as Sunderland A.F.C's Tapio Lehti slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Toni Kopola. That made the score 0-4 after 71 minutes of play. In the 75th minute Rainer Peuhkuri shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Toni Kopola saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lassi Tammisto fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kauno Pihlman having to interfere. Kauno Pihlman made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leevi Mikkonen in the 84th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Team Vires's zone, Tapio Lehti stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Toni Kopola came out of the goal and Tapio Lehti tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Team Vires's Toni Kopola played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jari Litmanen in the 88th minute of play. Jari Litmanen scored 0-5 in the 92nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Toni Kopola, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Sunderland A.F.C's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.