National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Osmo Ripatti started the match with the kick off. After 6 minutes, Madis Luuse mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Estonia and the U21 Finland players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 6 played minutes U21 Estonia got a freekick which was hit by Madis Luuse. Reino Piekkanen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rauno Paadam, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, U21 Estonia's Jaanus Oinak got control of the ball when Einari Pelttari tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 19th minute, Tarmo Vehmanen hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 28th minute, Rauno Paadam managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Estonia's supporters rose to their feet, but Rauno Paadam was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Reino Piekkanen breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Madis Luuse hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. 31 minutes into the match, U21 Finland's goal looked a bit too open when Rauno Paadam came free, but Reino Piekkanen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jere Urones kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. After 35 played minutes U21 Estonia got a freekick which was hit by Mattias Krae. Urmas Kuparinen took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 38th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Jaanus Oinak. U21 Estonia's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Arvo Heido hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Jaanus Oinak took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Einari Pelttari, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Einari Pelttari got free with Jaanus Oinak in the 47th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 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 Madis Luuse made a kick off. 51 minutes in the game Ari Laurila did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Osmo Ripatti. 52 minutes into the match, U21 Estonia's goal looked a bit too open when Tarmo Vehmanen came free, but Jaanus Oinak reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Reino Piekkanen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Madis Luuse, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. Reino Piekkanen made a fantastic save in the 57th minute, when Rauno Paadam sent off a good shot on target. U21 Finland's defense didn't have a chance, in the 59th minute, when Madis Luuse scored to the left of an out of position Reino Piekkanen, making the score, 0-1. U21 Estonia's Marcelo Courtemanche was substituted for Mattias Krae. U21 Finland were awarded a corner in the 67th minute after U21 Estonia's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Urmas Kuparinen took the corner. U21 Finland's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Elmo Okapuu 71 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 0-2. U21 Estonia's Vambola Onnu was substituted for Laur Kaldalu. Elmo Okapuu succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-3 in the 82nd playminute. U21 Finland's Kari Ryynänen was substituted for Petri Saastamoinen. Aatto Heinola sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 88 played minutes U21 Estonia got a freekick which was hit by Moise Dragoș. Elmo Okapuu might have been able to make a better finish in the 89th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Reino Piekkanen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Elmo Okapuu ran back to his position shaking his head. The throw-in from Ari Laurila in the 93rd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by U21 Estonia's Aadu Talu. U21 Estonia's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.