The Finnish championship will be decided on Sunday at Tapiola in Espoo. Kiekko-Espoo, which has won the first two final encounters, has already bowed to IFK Helsinki twice in a row.
Emma Hyyppä,
Sari Sirkkiä
23.4. 17:14 • Updated April 23rd. 18:08
Kiekko-Espool had a chance to decide the Finnish championship in the fourth final, but Helsinki IFK leveled the final series to 2–2 and stretched the Finnish Championship gold decision to the fifth or last match.
Reigning champion Kiekko-Espoo won the first two finals with the clearest reading, but IFK, who faced a forced win, has been stronger in the last two encounters. Now the people of Helsinki won 4-1 in their home hall in Pirkkola.
Injured in previous match Matilda Nilsson was in the composition of HIFK and rose to an important role again. He made an IFK 1-1 draw in the opening round.
IFK head coach Saara Niemi had a hard time fighting for the team. The second round had been played in less than half a minute when Julia Liikala fired IFK 2-1 to lead Michaela Pejzlovan from the feed. The same power duo corresponded to a 3–1 reading in the third installment. Excess and Karoliina Rantamäki The attack was completed by the Czech reinforcement Pejzlova.
There were less than ten minutes left in the match, when Kiekko-Espoo was briefly under the power of two women Kiira Yrjänen and Nelli Laitinen due to successive coolers.
– The game of Kiekko-Espoo shines with frustration. IFK has played really mature and stubbornly and has not been passivated despite its leading position, expert Anniina Rajahuhta said in a speech broadcast.
However, Kiekko-Espoo kept its surface undercutting. It played in the last minutes without a goalkeeper and got close to the reduction of Kiira Yrjänen and Emmi Rakkolaisen companies, but the network did not sway.
Michaela Pejzlova took possession of the puck and sealed the final score 4-1.
The settlement match on Sunday in Espoo
The championship will be decided tomorrow, Sunday, at the Kiekko-Espoo home hall in Tapiola.
HIFK, who has picked up for the last two matches, will even go to the decisive match as a pre-favorite, says expert Rajahuhta.
– I think the series turned around when there were more goals that we gained faith and self-confidence. Now there are no brakes. I think it’s going to be a really intense game. A really tough team is up against it, Nilsson anticipates Sunday for Urheilu.
Nilsson’s play in the fourth final was long uncertain after Wednesday’s dangerous-looking injury, but everything is fine now, striker. Nilsson was hit in the neck by Emmi Rakkolainen’s tackle and was carried out of the trough on a stretcher.
– I have been feeling well and my alertness is normal. I talked to the doctor and Saara (Niemi). I made the decision myself to play. I do my best in front of that team and it felt safe to go to the pitch, Nilsson said.
Kiekko-Espoo head coach: “We were scared and shy”
Puck-Espoo striker Kiira Yrjänen admits that the team’s grip weakened in the third round.
– Maybe in the end we got a little frustrated. We might have been a little sleepy and not fought in front of the team so well. Better tomorrow, Yrjänen said.
Head coach Sami Haapanen spent a long time in the locker room after the match, unpacking the events with the players of Kiekko-Espoo.
– It really didn’t work except in Strömsö. We were scared and shy. There is no way for a champion team to play that way. IFK deservedly took it, Haapanen manasi.
Haapanen can’t say exactly what caused Kiekko-Espoo’s fear and tenderness on Saturday.
– I guess the first two games came a little easily. After that, the idea escaped. I don’t know if there was any fear of losing it, even though nothing has been won yet, Haapanen pondered and continued:
– I’ll say we play the best game of the season tomorrow. We are ready, Haapanen said.
The fifth final, which starts at 4 pm, can be watched live on Speech.