Kuopio Palloseura’s victory brings more than 10,000 euros to the clubs of the National League. In the next qualifying round, KuPS can face Ria Öling’s Rosengård or the Italian giant Juventus.
Kuopio Palloseura pulled off a tough trick on Sunday evening, when it advanced to the second qualifying round of the Champions League. In the final of the mini-tournament, which was part of the first qualifying stage, played in Poland, KuPS defeated the Belgian Anderlecht, who had started as early favorites, 4–3 after a penalty shootout.
– We are two matches away from something that has never happened in women’s football in Finland. This gives me, the players and the club incredible credibility. We showed that Finland produces good players and teams and that we can do well in Europe as well, KuPS head coach Ollipekka Ojala described to Urheilu.
Ojala reveals that the previous night has gone almost the same way.
– We didn’t really sleep at all last night, we gave the players and backgrounds a bit of time off and enjoyed the victory.
The actual playing time ended with 1-1, so a solution was sought in the follow-up match. Kicked from the penalty kick of KuPS’s opening goal Gentjana Rochi brought the people of Kuopio level in the last moments, and the match went to a penalty shootout, which KuPS eventually won.
– Many have tried to describe the match today, but it is quite difficult. We could have solved the game a little easier. Afterwards, the arc of the drama, how we came back to the game from behind, the failed penalty kick, the opponent also failed and finally the victory… After all, it’s something that will never be forgotten. A unique experience, Ojala summed up.
In the next round, opponents from the top of the world
The two-part match pairs for the next qualifying stage will be drawn on Thursday, September 1. In Anderlecht, players from the Belgian national team, who participated in the EC quarterfinals, played, but in the second qualifying stage, the opponent will be even tougher. Unranked KuPS will face one of the ranked teams, i.e. Slavia Praha, Rosengård, Juventus, St. Pölten, FC Zürich, Benfica or Albanian champion Vllaznia.
– Rosengård, Central European teams and big clubs are really tough. They are opportunities for us. The opponents are really tough, but we will go one game at a time, no matter who we face, Ojala assures.
– Surely even those teams have weaknesses that we can attack. I think we have a realistic chance of challenging any of the teams.
Ojala also sees positive aspects in this: in the second qualifying phase, KuPS also gets to play on their home field.
– It is an incredible advantage and of great importance to the region that we get such matches here.
KuPS’s matches continue in the National League on Saturday, when they face the league runner-up HJK. The Helsinki group lurks seven points away.
The previous meeting between the teams in Helsinki in May ended with a 2–1 victory for KuPS. The people from Kuopio have lost only once this season, when PK-35 Vantaa defeated the people from Kuopio at home 2–1. Instead, the previous meeting between the teams ended in Kuopio a little over a week ago with a crushing 7–0 victory for KuPS. KuPS’s goal difference at the top of the league is a knockout: 80–9.
The matches of the second qualifying stage of the Champions League will be played in September, but Ojala does not feel that they will strain the championship of Kuopio.
– They have a positive effect at most. If there is a backlog of matches, we are able to recycle and give all players opportunities. Traveling can show in some way, but they are positive challenges. We feel that they strengthen us even more, Ojala assures.
Money also for other National League clubs
The Women’s Champions League was renewed last season, when for the first time a group stage was added, where the teams progress through the qualifying paths. Last season’s champion Lyon, Barcelona, who lost the final, and Chelsea and Wolfsburg, who reached the semi-finals, advance directly to the group stage.
The new solidarity model enables support for other Finnish clubs as well, i.e. the National League teams benefit from KuPS’s success on the Euro courts.
– The further KuPS advances, the more the clubs of the National League will receive financial support. Here we are talking a little more about the sums of 10,000 euros per club, Development Manager of the Football Association Heidi Pihlaja reveal.
The winnings on the Eurocourts are naturally reflected in KuPS’s purse as well, although the fees still pale in comparison to the men’s fees.
– Now we are slowly starting to talk about six-figure sums. If we advance to the group stage, KuPS may have a chance to earn half a million, but of course there is still a long way to go and the next round stage to overcome.
Pihlaja, who works as the development manager of the Finnish Football Association, is happy about the success of the Finnish club on the Euro courts.
– I see that this gives Finnish club football, especially on the women’s side, the feeling that when one’s operating environment is professional and in good shape, there is a chance to do well on European fields. I believe that KuPS has full potential, a little depending on the luck of the draw, to challenge also in the last stage before the group stage, Pihlaja concludes.
Manchester City’s sky has already ended
In the first qualifying phase of the Women’s Champions League, one of the big clubs fell even before the second qualifying phase.
On Sunday, Manchester City, which was buzzing with superstars and European Championship gold medalists, was eliminated from the competition, when Real Madrid, who made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, took the final of the qualifying tournament played in Spain 1-0. The decisive goal was scored by someone who played for City last season Caroline Weir.
by Jenny Danielsson represented by Rangers, on the other hand, advanced after defeating the Greek PAOK in the final of the qualifying tournament. Danielsson played in the 73rd minute, but was left without a goal this time. In the opening match of the mini-tournament, Danielsson scored twice as Rangers beat Hungary’s Ferencvaros 3–1.
In the next qualifying round, the Finns will also see Real Sociedad San Francisco and Rosengårdin Ria Öling.
The match pairs of the second qualifying phase of the Women’s Champions League will be drawn on September 1. The matches will be played on the 20th–21st. September and 28–29 September The block phase starts in October.