Kekkola 2 - 9 Hillers (369404836)

Clouds darkened the skies at Yrttisuon liikuntapuisto as 33228 spectators turned up for the match. John Fransman was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Fabio Parmeggiani and Zbyněk Krajíček. Kekkola had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Ruikka - Woodbury, Syväniemi, Frondelius - Junkkari, van Putten, Matalamäki, Chydenius, Ruutunen - Stelmaszczyk, Valorinta.

Hillers decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. Lineup: Ahvenlampi - Koppány, Mykkälä - Koikkalainen, Männistö, Rustholkarhu, Röntynen, Sláčik - Selmani, Păsărică, Wierichs.

Hillers saw most attack opportunities on the wings. After 5 minutes, M. Sláčik sprinted between the opposing defenders and squared the ball, but the keeper deflected G. Wierichs's shot. They were singing the praises of O. Valorinta 13 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Kekkola. The visitors refused to give in and, after 27 minutes, J. Röntynen evened things up as he finished off a perfect pass from the right. 1 - 1 After 35 minutes, Kekkola's K. Stelmaszczyk swiftly ran past H. Männistö and nutmegged the keeper! 2 - 1. It was obvious that Hillers had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. J. Röntynen finished off a quick charge from the left of the field by chipping the ball just past the home side's keeper, making the score 2 - 2 40 minutes into the match. Hillers's J. Röntynen gave the visitors a 2 - 3 lead after 41 minutes with a superb strike from the right. At that, J. Röntynen was noted down for a hat trick! Players in Hillers heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. Some fine movement on the left led to a Hillers goal after 44 minutes, making it 2 - 4. M. Păsărică was noted down as the scorer. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Hillers lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. H. Mykkälä of Hillers received a yellow card after 44 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 2 - 4 was the score after the first half. Hillers enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

G. Wierichs of Hillers took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 49 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 2 - 5. G. Wierichs left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 60 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. O. Winterer was the replacement. M. Păsărică was, after 75 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper E. Ruikka made the save. Hillers made it 2 - 6 as P. Selmani got a touch to the floated corner kick and flicked the ball to H. Mykkälä who whipped a low drive in off the far post. With 77 minutes played, a quick exchange of passes on the left wing freed P. Selmani of Hillers to slip through the defence and score another goal for the visitors. That made the score 2 - 7. Hillers increased their lead after 78 minutes when H. Männistö broke through on the right, upping the score to 2 - 8, much to the home crowd's dismay. P. Selmani increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 2 - 9. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Hillers, with 63 percent of the ball.

Most important Kekkola player was L. van Putten. However, E. Ruikka made a disastrous appearance. Hillers's best player was P. Selmani. T. Ahvenlampi turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 9.