Riku Isokoski
Tappara managed to win with dry feet, writes Riku Isokoski from Tampere.
(updated )
Rikard Grönborg had something for the judges. Mika Kylmäniemi, AOP
From the fifth semi-final match between Tappara and Ilves, we were allowed to expect the most even match of the series so far. Such was obtained.
Both teams had been beaten by their father in previous matches: Tapparaa in the first two matches of the series and Ilves in the fourth match played on Thursday.
Tappara had made the necessary corrections, and its game has improved as the series has progressed. In this match, Ilves needed a postural movement after Thursday’s 5–1 defeat.
In light of the statistics, the Tampere semifinal series was very even after four matches, but the momentum had fluctuated wildly from one side to the other.
The fifth game was the first in this series, which was tied most of the time. You could see from the game of both teams that the risk levels were low and the playing was very precise.
As a result, the fifth match became an extremely tight battle, where the finishing positions were very tight.
In the final round, it seemed that Henrik Haapala, who had been recovering for less than a week, became the hero, who scored a goal in 48:42. Haapala has scored extremely important goals in the ax shirt before.
But what else. The Tappara audience was already ready to open the victory drinks when Ilves’ John Nyberg was sent to the ice shelf 2.5 minutes before the end.
At this point, Rikard Grönborg fell into an unfathomable mistake. The Swede hit the field with Benjamin Rautiainen and Joachim Blichfeld, who are not the best defensive players of nearby Tappara.
As if Tappara had forgotten that Ilves could still take out the goalkeeper and start a dangerous spin during his understrength.
That’s how it happened that Ilves took control of the situation. Rautiainen and Blichfeld were far away from their own goal, when Simon Johansson, the gold cup with tassel ears, was able to shovel a dramatic equalizing goal in 58.23.
Grönborgin Tappara went for a decisive 2–0 goal, when it should have secured the victory in the old Tappara way. It probably would have happened if more defensive players had been on the field instead of Rautiainen and Blichfeld.
Fortunately for Tappara, however, they managed to win 2–1 in extra time with a goal by Kristian Tanus. Tappara has risen from a 2–0 situation to a 3–2 series lead and is one win away from a place in the final.
In terms of gameplay, this match was the best in the series, although the entertainment value did not rise high except for the final set and overtime. Entertainment was provided instead by the stomps of the Ilves fan stand.
The troublemakers who smuggled a smoke bomb into the stands of the Nokia Arena managed to stop the match in the very first minutes. I hope those responsible for the stupidity get a long ban from all league matches.
Ilves’ fan culture has a lot of good things, going and going. However, the antics of a few fools create a negative image of all Ilves supporters.
Ilves would like to intervene in the stupid behavior of his supporters.
