P.R.M 3 - 2 Nuijapäät (362496338)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 1427 had shown up at Mitica de la liga for the match. Radovan Topalov was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mariano Aquino and Arne Morris. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for P.R.M. They fielded: Lupaşcu - Raso, Sorlí, Petric - Łapczyński, Lekkerkerk, Novruzov, Şovu - Couto, Louvar, Helmantel.

Nuijapäät had chosen a strategic 5-3-1 formation. Lineup: Vesterbacka - Palonen, Komulainen, Järnström, Purje, Saha - Lahdenranta, Varila, Vuorikkinen - Sundman.

P.R.M clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. Given a free kick close to the byline, Nuijapäät tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let T. Vuorikkinen slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 0 - 1, 3 minutes into the game. Nuijapäät's S. Lahdenranta was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 21 minutes. After 32 minutes, P.R.M were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. A. Petric did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. The crowd was on its feet 33 minutes into the match, as P.R.M's K. Louvar found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 1 - 1 equaliser. P.R.M could have put themselves ahead after 40 minutes but K. Louvar missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. P.R.M claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 76 percent.

After a fine move down the middle J. Sorlí nearly gave the home side a goal after 48 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. As the 50 minute mark approached, the Nuijapäät coach decided it was time for a substitution. T. Vuorikkinen reluctantly made way for A. Raita-aho on the pitch. P.R.M took the lead 60 minutes into the game by 2 - 1, as R. Novruzov elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. With 65 minutes played, the Nuijapäät coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. O. Rommi came on, M. Purje had to leave the fray. 75 minutes in, Nuijapäät appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only inadequate. A weary-looking A. Raso struggled to keep pace with the advancing attack, but he just didn't have the energy and let Nuijapäät's V. Saha through to score, making it 2 - 2. P.R.M had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. R. Novruzov gave P.R.M the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 3 - 2 P.R.M players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. G. Lekkerkerk should probably have put his team up another goal after 87 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by T. Vesterbacka kept the visitors in the game. After 88 minutes Nuijapäät tried to exploit their counterattacking skills, unfortunately, T. Palonen's shot sailed wide after his break down the right. A. Petric of P.R.M was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. P.R.M enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 78 percent of possession.

K. Louvar performed admirably for P.R.M. However, A. Raso made a disastrous appearance. Nuijapäät's top performer was clearly T. Sundman. T. Palonen turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 2.