KuPS women’s dream of reaching the group stage of the soccer Champions League ended in the final of the UWCL qualifying tournament.
Kuopio Palloseura lost to the Serbian champion club ZFK Spartak Subotica 1–2 (1–1) in the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament, from which only the winner advanced to the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
Substitute player for KuPS Wilma Forsblom got the ball into the opponent’s net in the 88th minute, but the assistant referee ruled the hit from a long sideline throw as offside. Based on the bad slow motion, disallowing the equalizer may have been the wrong decision.
In the heat of 27 degrees, in the final played in Denmark, KuPS got a dream start from a special situation, when the Yankees’ top scorer from Kuopio Hannah Sharts a long throw set up the opening goal. Aino Kröger header after a long sideline throw, the Kuopio people took the lead from the back area at just under three minutes.
A Ghanaian Doris Boaduwa was able to easily and cheaply complete the 1–1 equalizer in the 11th minute, when KuPS’s goalkeeper Fanny Söderström miraculously froze in a situation where two opponents came to press him at the same time. The opening kick attempt hit Boaduwaaha, from which the ball bounced from a couple of meters directly into the Kuopio team’s net.
KuPS’s great start came to a halt almost like a wall when they conceded an equalizing goal to the opponent, after which the Kuopio team saw more stray passes and bad decisions than usual. Spartak Subotica’s strong pressing play was known in advance, but it still produced difficulties. Based on the first half, KuPS still had everything to advance from the match pair to the next round.
In the second half, however, KuPS could not find a new gear this time. Opponent’s national team player Tijana Filipovic kept the Finnish club on their toes the entire time, and Doris Boaduwaa sneaked between the two top players of KuPS to score, completing the 2–1 winning goal in the 63rd minute. The goal was preceded by several lost fighting situations from the Finnish champion, and a particularly bad opening by the KuPS defender directly to the opponent.
Spartak’s Makenzie Ann Langdock got a red card in the 80th minute, but KuPS couldn’t use their player superiority on the field at the end. Playing with the ball fell short from Kuopio, and because of that, the offensive game did not work as usual.
Spartak Subotica – 12-time Serbian champion – like KuPS, has not reached the group stage of the Champions League even once. Now its dream is possible if it struggles in the 2nd qualifying round in a two-part match against its opponent, who will be drawn later.
At the end of May, he became the responsible coach of KuPS women Pauliina Miettinen leading KuPS, who lead the National League by seven points, only suffered their first defeat on Saturday, taking into account all series up to the last 16 matches.
In the bronze match of the qualifying tournament, Danish champion HB Köge, who lost to KuPS 1-2 on Wednesday, beat KI Klaksvik from Färsaare 3-1.