Oliver Antman wrote his name in Huuhkajat history, writes Janne Palomäki.
Oliver Antman shot the ball handsomely right at the foot of the back post. PDO
Futs is a results sport.
Nothing else can be said when the Huuhkajs are offered an away win on a tray.
Žarko Tomašević fooled himself into the shower already in the 17th minute. Two slaps on Teemu Puk’s shins were too much for French referee François Letexier.
Tomašević marched to the Gradski Stadium dressing room as the home crowd whistled, but he didn’t have to take a shower. Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, was whipped the autumn rain had also transformed the game platform into a Balkan monkey swamp.
It is difficult to evaluate the tactical insights of head coach Markku Kanerva when the field did not give debutant Oliver Antman the opportunity to use his best strengths. Korson Palloseura’s grown-up is a player with running power who is most dangerous in one-on-one situations.
The heavy rain favored lifting the ball into the air as much as possible.
The story continues after the picture
Benjamin Kallman and Nikola Vukcevic literally dived after the ball. PDO
However, despite the heavy weather, Antman was the most successful already in the opening period. The youngster did not wear the shirt of the representative team, but used his game intelligence and dared to shoot.
– I’m looking forward to it, and I believe that Oliver will succeed, Kanerva told Yle before the start of the match.
The belief turned out to be a complete reality in the following hours.
However, we went into the break in a scoreless tie.
– Of course, it changed the plan when the guy took a red card, Mika Nurmela, who is part of the coaching staff, told Yle after the half-time whistle.
The rain made Finland’s task difficult, even though the opponent was close.
– We couldn’t move the opponent enough. We are able to advance along the wing lanes, but we need to get power to the goal.
The last comment already anticipates the entry of Joel Pohjanpeli.
Jolle came on the field right at the beginning of the second period and immediately made a difference.
Venezia’s Finnish forward received Glen Kamara’s vertical pass inside the penalty area. He was still able to share it with a little tip to Teemu Puk, who continued it to Antman, who was waiting on the edge of the box.
When it was the first men’s international match of a short futsal match, it would be corny to talk about the most important hit of a career.
That’s what it was, though. Antman shot a wonderful curling shot with the first one right at the foot of the post, leaving no chance for Montenegro’s goalkeeper Milan Mijatović.
It’s a winning goal in a match that, of course, got easier after Tomašević was sent off. But before that, mudball must-win matches were becoming excruciatingly difficult.
Just a few minutes later, Antman increased his own man of the match value by continuing Kaan Kairinen’s cross from the back post through the ground to Benjamin Källman. The power forward seemed to start venting even before he kicked the ball into the empty net.
The story continues after the picture
Teemu Pukki had a rough time on a very heavy field. PDO
Finland scored two goals in just over five minutes and decided both the victory of the match and the second place in this B3 group. Futis is a result sport, and this match still cannot be used as a learning material about the Finnish way of playing.
– It feels very good. Debut, I got to start the game, a goal, an assist and an important win. I couldn’t be happier, Antman was happy in an interview with Yle.
– The instructions were to only play as yourself. This gives more confidence, and is a really big thing for me. I hope there will be even better performances in the future.
Huuhkajat has now played twice in the Nations League at this B level. The series location was also renewed this time, and now as a bonus can expect a couple of matches with England, who have dropped into the common draw basketwhen this competition is returned in two years.
Kanerva’s protégés practically lost the chance to win the group and advance to the A level already in the quartet country matches in June. It is also honest to admit, that the team’s performance this season didn’t even deserve promotion.
Finland beat substitute Montenegro at the Olympic Stadium and the same team was undermanned on Monday. Instead, the team could only collect one point from Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Kanerva’s job is made easier by the fact that the team will be in a positive frame of mind for next year’s actual EC qualifiers. Before that, of course, the coach might try out the players both in November’s double practice match and in January’s traditional training camp, which can now finally be organized after a long break.
Of course, on Tuesday, we’ll still finish the Nations League matches. Only after them can we say what will be Finland’s final position in the EC qualification ranking.
However, even if the Huuhkajat is the best group runner-up, that does not guarantee a secure place in the next qualification either. The best route to Germany’s 2024 EC final tournament is still through the actual qualification.
After all, that’s how the first value race in history came out.