Finland’s national futsal team lost to Holland in an extremely high-stakes match. Holland will advance to the final tournament of the World Cup in the fall.
22:43•Updated 22:49
In the decisive World Cup qualifying match in Vantaa, Finland and the Netherlands put on an incredible show in which goals were scored in turn. In the end, Holland celebrated the victory at the end of the penalty shootout. This is how Holland advances to the World Cup final tournament to be played in the fall.
Finland leveled twice in the match. However, in the decisive moments, Holland showed that they know how to play. The visiting team went into the match as a small underdog, despite the fact that the first part ended in a draw 1–1.
Finnish captain Jukka Kytölä thanked his team despite the final result.
– I’m really proud of the team, maybe we deserved more.
– A bitter way to lose. This happened today, Kytölä said.
Finnish goalkeeper Kasperi Kangas was emotional after the match.
– Sport is not always fair. The fact is that we were the better team for 50 minutes. However, character was shown in overcoming a two-goal deficit.
In the match, Finland alternated its goalkeepers from Kanga and Antti Koivumäki. Kangas, who saved in the decisive moments, admitted that changing goalkeepers during the match was challenging.
– It was challenging for me that the goalkeeper was changed in the first period. When there aren’t really any shots, I claim that I would have saved that first goal if I had been in goal the whole game.
In the second period, Finland got into the game and the team pushed the game to Holland’s end.
– In the second period, the goalkeeper was used well in attacks and the opponent was completely caught off guard, Kangas reflected.
When both teams scored once in extra time, it was the turn of the penalty shootout. The Dutch keeper, who made great saves throughout the match Manuel Kuijk was also more advanced than the Finnish guards with commas.
– Respect to everyone who went to shoot the tough guys, it’s not an easy job. I’m damn proud of the team. All the guys certainly gave their all, Kangas decided emotionally.
“Fantastic entertainment”
An audience of more than 2,000 people had arrived to watch the match at the Vantaa Areena. The match, with its many phases, offered a great show to the supporters who arrived.
Urheilu’s expert and former national team captain Panu Autio showed honor to both teams.
– The teams offered fantastic entertainment.
Autio admitted that Finland could have relatively easily reached the final tournament of the World Cup.
– In sports, you always have to have an attitude of growth and look ahead. This was the seam of all times so far, but yes, there will be seams in the future as well. Now this is what happened.
– There was room for improvement in Finland in finishing in certain places and defending in key moments.
According to Autio, there was room for improvement in Finland in finishing in certain places and defending in key moments.
With a win, Finland would have had the opportunity to advance to the finals of the World Cup for the first time in history. Holland advances to its fifth World Cup.
“Fortunately, the EC qualifiers await in the fall, let’s go there to get a new hook,” captain Kytölä summed up the continuation.
The World Cup final tournament will be played in September-October in Uzbekistan.