Finland had to play the situation that led to Kazakhstan’s equalizing goal without Robert Ivanov, who is important in special defensive situations. In the end, supporters whistled the players into the locker room after the loss.
The Finnish men’s national football team’s night at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium went downhill at the 72 minute mark. A peculiar series of events led to Kazakhstan’s equalizer.
Richard Jensen gave a sideline throw in midfield that went on the field, but went back over the sideline without touching anyone.
– It was a kind of “Helsinki Cup throw”, the narrator Matti Härkönen described in a TV broadcast.
A lot happened in a few seconds, as there were even two balls on the field. From Jensen’s next boundary throw, the ball ended up in Kazakhstan, and Robert Ivanov had to break. The result was a free kick that led to a penalty kick.
The ball was played into the box, and hit Glen Kamaran from the wrecking ball to Jensen’s hand. After a VAR review, the ball was taken to the spot. It is worth noting that Finland had to play the situation without Ivanov, who was important in special situations of the own end, who was on the side of the field for maintenance. According to the rules, the player is not allowed to return to the field in the next situation if maintenance has entered the field.
20 minutes later, Huuhkajie’s dreams of getting from the European Championship qualifying group to the Games were finally crushed, when Kazakhstan completed the winning goal in extra time.
– We missed it ourselves when we tried to throw a sideline in it. Raise your hand. There was a bit of a miscommunication and they got a kick out of it. I didn’t register the hand foul myself, but it certainly hit the hand when you looked at the VARs, Jensen recounted the situation that led to the first goal.
– Those are decisive moments in the game. Sad thing. It stings. I tried my best to knock the ball out, but it hit my hand.
Also the captain Lukas Hradecky comment on the situation after the match. Hradecky didn’t stop to wonder if he could have caught Kamara’s breakaway ball.
– I made the decision early. I don’t think I would. You can’t prepare for something like that. An unclean kick, so you can count on the ball to go away. It comes so fast. There was no danger, the ball would have come straight into my lap with that (Kazakh player’s) header. If they start looking at these, maybe I could have applied for it then, Hradecky said in frustration.
Pohjoikaarre reacts strongly with a whistle concert when the final whistle blows. It is rare in Huuhkajie’s matches.
– Surely everyone expected and wanted us to win. Understandably, football evokes emotions. That’s okay, Jensen said.