In the final round of the regular season of the National League, KuPS will face HJK in the top fight starting at 6 p.m. Emma Peuhkurinen from Kuopio has had a memorable week.
11:00•Updated 11:19
KuPS midfielder Emma Peuhkurinen it’s been a wild week: on Sunday, the Kuopio team dramatically defeated the pre-favorite Anderlecht in the final of the Champions League qualifying mini-tournament in Poland at the end of the penalty shootout, and a couple of days later Peuhkurinen’s name was found on the list of Helmareite’s World Cup qualifying team – for the first time ever.
– Even I don’t really believe that so many good things happen in such a short time! Peuhkurinen admits to Urheilu by phone.
– First of all, the game in Poland against Anderlecht was very memorable, it will probably never be forgotten. The national team invitation has been my dream for a long time, I am really happy about the invitation.
– I believed that there were possibilities for that. The season has gone well for myself and especially for the team. It was a happy, positive surprise when “Make” (Saloranta) contacted me, but I knew how to expect that this could come, Peuhkurinen’s time.
The 2020 season was missed due to injury
Success has not come easily to Peuhkurinen. He moved from ONS to Kuopio at the end of 2019, but already injured his knee in the second practice. An anterior cruciate ligament injury kept Peuhkurinen out of the game for the entire 2020 season.
Peihkurinen was familiar with rehabilitation, as it was already his third serious knee injury. However, handing over never crossed my mind at any point.
– I have always had faith in my own doing, that we will come back from here. After all, those were difficult times after the third knee surgery, I haven’t made it easy, but I have good support around me. It’s up from here. I am grateful to those close to me that they have always believed in me.
Peuhkurinen’s knee recovered and he came back even stronger. This season, the defensive midfielder has made strides in every area.
– My strengths include playing defense and dueling situations. I believe that those are the strengths that led to the national team call-up.
Against HJK in the top fight
Kuopio will see a battle for the top in the final round of the regular season of the National League, when KuPS will face HJK, which is lurking in second place in the series.
After Saturday, the series will be divided into the Championship Series of the six best teams and the Challenger Series of the four worst performing teams. The teams in the championship series play each other for medals, and in the Challenger series they play for survival.
There is no huge stake in the final round, as the teams that continue to the Championship and Challenger Series are already clear: KuPS, HJK, PK-35 Vantaa, Åland United, PK-35 and HPS are fighting for medals, and FC Honka, Ilves, ONS and NJS are fighting for survival. However, points are important for HJK if the team wants to stay in the championship.
– Surely a tough struggle is coming. Especially after the European games, we have the confidence right. We are a tough team to beat. I believe that the match will be decided by us maintaining our own level and playing as we have been playing until now.
In Kuopio, it is possible to see all four players invited to Helmari for the first time on the field at the same time, because in addition to Peuhkurinen, Oona and Emmi Siren see you in the ranks of the home team and Joanna Tynnilä in the strength of the guests.