Ilves is the champion of the Finnish Cup 2023.
Lauri Laine fanned Honga’s goal. Emil Hansson / AOP
Tampere Ilves is the champion of the Finnish Cup in 2023. In the final match played at the Olympic Stadium, they beat FC Honga 2–1. In addition to the trophy, Ilves received a place in next summer’s Conference League qualifiers as a reward.
Honka, who played in Keltamusti, had an excellent start to the match. 18-year-old who has appeared in the Finnish junior national teams Lauri Laine completed his first Honka goal in the eighth minute with a handsome half-volley.
The diverse supporters of the people of Espoo didn’t get to celebrate for long. After seven minutes, Ilves’ captain Tatu Miettunen headed the ball into the goal in the first corner kick.
Miettunen, who thrives as a top player, has now succeeded in scoring twice in the final match of the Finnish Cup. The previous goal came four years earlier. Miettunen also scored Ilves’ winning goal in the semifinals, so the captain’s contribution to Ilves’ cup story should not be underestimated.
In the 27th minute of the game, Honga’s end flickered again. Ilves players wearing green shirts built a ball in front of the box to Djairi, who got himself into the draw with his own deviations. Moments earlier, Hongan Edmund Arko-Mensah missed the drive through.
Djair Parfitt-Williams of Ilves completed the winning goal of the final. Emil Hansson / AOP
Ilves went into the break with a 2–1 lead.
Ilves wall
In the second period, the contribution of the game was realized and the goal celebration was not continued. Honka composed himself and controlled the events on the field with the ball, but was unable to break Ilves’ defense in any way. Continuous Centers almost regularly bumped over the two-meter tall Ilves defender Seydine N’Diayen on.
Ilves had places to package the game. At the hour mark Santeri Haaralan a strong pull hit the top bar Maksim Rudakovin through the buttons.
As the game drew to a close, emotions ran high in the Honga camp. As expected, Ilves parked the bus in front of his goal and didn’t let the opponent get too close.
Even the eight extra minutes given by the judge did not save Honka. After four years, Ilves celebrated the Cup championship and, despite the difficult Veikkausliiga season, will be able to play European games next summer.
The weekend has been wonderful anyway. On Friday, on the eve of the cup final, the Tampere club secured their place in the Veikkausliiga, when KTP did not get points from Oulu.
The Ilves coach probably smiled the most in the final Joni Lehtonen. Not many people get to celebrate their 50th birthday at the Olympic Stadium in the company of thousands of others.
333 teams participated in the men’s Finnish Cup this year.
Ilves head coach Joni Lehtonen turned 50 on the day of the final. Juha Tamminen / AOP