League

Hepola Stadium
Spectators: 6782 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1782, VIP seats: 0) Vasaramäki's Atte Alanko 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eero Kallioniemi in the 4th minute of play forced Vasaramäki's goalkeeper Sami Uusipaavalniemi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 5th match minute, Vasaramäki was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mikko Miettinen to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Hepola IFK's Esa Valin got a free kick in the 8th minute. Mikko Miettinen kicked well hit freekick during the 9th minute of the match. Esa Valin's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Sami Uusipaavalniemi firmly grabbed it by the left post. The audience was convinced that Atte Alanko's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Timo Ahonen was relentless in the 12th minute of the game. After having played for 13 minutes, Kerkko Immonen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Vasaramäki's supporters crossed their fingers, but Kerkko Immonen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Mikko Miettinen's late challenge caught a Hepola IFK's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mikko Miettinen helped the player get up and apologised. In the 14th match minute, Vasaramäki was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mikko Miettinen to maneuver through the defense. In the 15th minute, Jukka-Pekka Furuholm sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Vasaramäki's Sami Uusipaavalniemi didn't even have to move. Atte Alanko scored 1-1 in the 20th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Timo Ahonen, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience was convinced that Atte Alanko's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Timo Ahonen was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. Sami Uusipaavalniemi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eero Kallioniemi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Vasaramäki booed when Hepola IFK was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Saku Sairanen didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 35thth minute of the game Atte Alanko who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Hepola IFK's Timo Ahonen was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Kerkko Immonen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Atte Alanko received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Timo Ahonen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Vasaramäki's Mikko Miettinen got a good chance for a goal in the 40th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Eero Kallioniemi made a kick off. The supporters of Hepola IFK booed when Vasaramäki was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Atte Alanko didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jere Pentsinen during the 54th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 54th minute, Jere Pentsinen hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jukka-Pekka Furuholm struck a weak shot in the 55th minute. Sami Uusipaavalniemi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hepola IFK. Sami Uusipaavalniemi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eero Kallioniemi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Eero Kallioniemi hit a great freekick 60 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice moves Atte Alanko could shoot a difficult shot in the 62nd minute, which Timo Ahonen however easily saved by the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Taito Vainionpää in the 63rd minute of play forced Hepola IFK's goalkeeper Timo Ahonen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Kerkko Immonen recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Timo Ahonen was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Atte Alanko showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-2 in the 66 minute of play. In the 70th minute Eero Kallioniemi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sami Uusipaavalniemi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eero Kallioniemi in the 86th minute of play forced Vasaramäki's goalkeeper Sami Uusipaavalniemi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 87th minute, Atte Alanko made a precise shot to the right of Timo Ahonen. Hepola IFK's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-3. If Eelis Tuomainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Hepola IFK fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Vasaramäki were clearly better and deserved to take the win.