National cup

National stadium
Spectators: 1028 (Terracing: 772, Seating: 236, VIP seats: 20) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Taisto Pentsinen started the match with the kick off. Taavi Hulkkonen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nikola Vlašić, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nikola Vlašić blasted a shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Taavi Hulkkonen having to make a save. When Croatia's Nikola Vlašić in the 15th minute got a chance for a shot 15th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Finland's goalie prevented a goal. Emil Cvitanović showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Taisto Pentsinen in the 19th minute of the match. In the 21st minute of the match, Valdemar Kuoppala got a very nice opportunity to score, but Emil Cvitanović was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ukko Pihkala in the 26th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Emil Cvitanović to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 30 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Taisto Pentsinen came free, but Emil Cvitanović reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Taavi Hulkkonen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nikola Vlašić, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Valdemar Kuoppala could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 36th minute of the match, but Emil Cvitanović made a huge save. 37 minutes into the match, Croatia's goalkeeper Emil Cvitanović had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Valdemar Kuoppala. Taavi Hulkkonen didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Nikola Vlašić went, in the 39th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ukko Pihkala in the 41st minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Emil Cvitanović to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Emil Cvitanović made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ukko Pihkala in the 41st minute of play. Vedran Ćesić hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-2 lead.

Finland made a substitution. Sylvesteri Valkama replaced Rio Ferdinand. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Joško Poklepović stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. With a little luck, Finland's Taavi Hulkkonen got control of the ball when Joško Poklepović tried to sneak it across the goal line. Emil Cvitanović showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Taisto Pentsinen in the 58th minute of the match. Taavi Hulkkonen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joško Poklepović, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Joško Poklepović got free with Taavi Hulkkonen in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 63 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Valdemar Kuoppala came free, but Emil Cvitanović reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 63 minutes, Valdemar Kuoppala made it 1-2 with a short kick to the right side. Croatia's Emil Cvitanović tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Croatia made a substitution. Nikola Haramina replaced Miran Tudor. Taavi Hulkkonen made a fantastic save in the 68th minute, when Joško Poklepović sent off a good shot on target. Croatia's Joško Poklepović got a good chance for a goal in the 71st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 76 minutes into the game, Croatia's Joško Poklepović nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Taavi Hulkkonen made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. In the 86th minute Finland were awarded a corner. Tero Kokkonen went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led Finland's Tero Kokkonen to fire away a dangerous shot which Emil Cvitanović despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Joško Poklepović fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Taavi Hulkkonen having to interfere. Finland's Taavi Hulkkonen proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 93rd minute of the match, managed to save Finland from getting a goal against them. Joško Poklepović who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 95thth minute tested the skills of Taavi Hulkkonen when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Mauro Kotlar kicked well hit freekick during the 96th minute of the match. Emil Cvitanović made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Taisto Pentsinen in the 98th minute of play.