League

Mätäsvaara
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) With a little luck, Puistokadun Predators's Jori Puurula got control of the ball when Rauli Vatanen tried to sneak it across the goal line. Mätäsvaara IFK's Mika Reinikainen got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Rauli Vatanen's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jori Puurula read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 8th minute of play. Mätäsvaara IFK's Valdemar Kiprusoff got a good chance for a goal in the 10th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Juha-Pekka Nielikäinen's late challenge caught a Mätäsvaara IFK's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Juha-Pekka Nielikäinen helped the player get up and apologised. After 12 played minutes Puistokadun Predators got a freekick which was hit by Juha-Pekka Nielikäinen. Puistokadun Predators's Jori Puurula proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 17th minute of the match, managed to save Puistokadun Predators from getting a goal against them. Saku Sanevuori showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jimi Murto in the 20th minute of the match. Arvo Ristolainen lost his temper 20 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. 19 minutes into the game, one of Mätäsvaara IFK:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 22nd minute there was a penalty for Puistokadun Predators. Pyry Väänänen stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Saku Sanevuori. 0-1. Mätäsvaara IFK's Saku Sanevuori played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jimi Murto in the 31st minute of play. After having played for 33 minutes, Ilmo Ahmaoja managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mätäsvaara IFK's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ilmo Ahmaoja was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Juha-Pekka Nielikäinen hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. When Vesa Lumio fell near the penalty area in the 35th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Puistokadun Predators's protests and gave Vesa Lumio a yellow card for diving instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Mika Reinikainen managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mätäsvaara IFK's supporters rose to their feet, but Mika Reinikainen was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jori Puurula breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mika Reinikainen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Mika Reinikainen came up free with the goalie in the 43rd minute, the Mätäsvaara IFK fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Mika Reinikainen couldn't finish the play. Mätäsvaara IFK's Lasse Varis got a good chance for a goal in the 45th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Mika Reinikainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After the first half Puistokadun Predators were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ilmo Ahmaoja stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Mika Reinikainen might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jori Puurula. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mika Reinikainen ran back to his position shaking his head. When Kim Pasoja fell near the penalty area in the 54th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Puistokadun Predators's protests and gave Kim Pasoja a yellow card for diving instead. Kim Pasoja hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. Jori Puurula made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mika Reinikainen in the 57th minute of play. Kari Jaakkola sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Mätäsvaara IFK booed when Puistokadun Predators was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Juha-Pekka Nielikäinen didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 67th minute Mika Reinikainen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jori Puurula saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jori Puurula made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Valdemar Kiprusoff in the 68th minute of play. In the 69th minute, Rauli Vatanen 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. If Mika Reinikainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Mätäsvaara IFK's Mika Reinikainen got a good chance for a goal in the 72nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Mika Reinikainen struck a weak shot in the 74th minute. Jori Puurula didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mätäsvaara IFK. Mika Reinikainen recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 78th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, Mätäsvaara IFK's Ilmo Ahmaoja got a free kick in the 79th minute. Anttoni Koivu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jori Puurula having to interfere. Jori Puurula showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mika Reinikainen, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. Puistokadun Predators's Jori Puurula played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ilmo Ahmaoja in the 88th minute of play. Mika Reinikainen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Jori Puurula tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Although Mätäsvaara IFK had been in control for most of the match, Puistokadun Predators still came away with the win.