Kuopio Palloseura’s championship celebration was interrupted when a Kuopio supporter fell from the stands. It was announced at the stadium that the spectator was not in danger.
STT Sports,
Hinn Hirvonen
Kuopio Palloseura celebrated the fourth victory of the men’s Finnish Cup in its history at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Saturday. KuPS took the second consecutive cup championship by defeating Turku’s Inter 1–0. The winning goal came in the 88th minute, when Gabriel Bispo hit the KuPS captain Henri Toivomäki of concentration.
The opening period in the middle of intermittent rain offered quite an open and even entertaining game for the supporters who were very vocal, and so Matias Riikonen In Inter’s goal like his official brother from Kupsia Johannes Kreidl too were able to stretch into good saves. KuPS were the closest to the goal Sebastian Dahlström and Inter’s Rober Sierra, but the break was scoreless.
In the second half, we got some sun, but the goals made us wait even in clear weather. As in the opening half, KuPS kept the ball most of the time and got corner kicks and half chances, but Turku’s defense remained tight and so well composed that no hits were seen.
Another consecutive cup final overtime seemed likely, until the resistance of the red shirts finally broke in the 88th minute. Gabriel Bispo, who scored the winning goal, had come on as a substitute just a couple of minutes earlier.
Inter’s attack, which was forcibly awakened from hibernation, put pressure on KuPS’s goal during a couple of minutes of regular time and six minutes of added time. The ball seemed to hit the KuPS defender’s hand inside the penalty area, but no penalty kick was awarded for the situation.
– Our performance today was a bit like our entire season. It’s been a bit up and down all season. We gave it our all, but today it wasn’t enough. We wanted to win and secure a place in Europe, but today it didn’t work out, Inter Tommi Jyry comment.
Along with the trophy, KuPS received 50,000 euros and a guaranteed place in next year’s Conference League qualifiers.
A supporter falling from the stands interrupted the party for a while
KuPS’s golden celebration was interrupted before it could even begin, when a fan from the supporters’ stand of the Kuopio team fell to the lower platform in the stand. The prize giving was interrupted for a moment and the stadium fell silent while the first aid personnel on the spot tended to the supporter. After ten minutes, it was announced at the stadium that the spectator’s life was not in danger.
The defender who has just received his first call-up to the A national team Diogo Tomas was relieved to see that the supporter was okay.
– Fortunately, we were able to help quickly. I saw when the guy raised his fist and the whole audience cheered. It’s a great thing that it didn’t get worse for him, but of course it dampened the mood for a while, Tomas commented.
Tomas said he believed in his own victory until the end.
– Our performance was really balanced and energetic. The field was quite hard to run on, we had a good time to press on. I had a feeling we were going to pull this off, we had so many spots.
Head coach Valakari was also visibly proud of his protégé’s performance.
– I am most proud of how the guys came into this game and played the whole game. The victory was deserved. We were very strong with the ball and created enough chances.
– Now we already have a European seat in our pocket. We have given ourselves the opportunity to play for the Veikkausliiga championship. Now we’ll enjoy a couple of days and then we’ll focus on the Veikkausliiga. Believe me, these parties don’t end tonight!
Simo Valakari, Diogo Tomasi and Tommi Jyry were interviewed by Mats Ahlnäs.
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