Teemu Pukki increased his number of goals to 43 in the last international match of his career.
The last international match of the year had been played for less than half an hour, when Juho Lähteenmäki gave a long vertical pass by Oliver Antman to the running line.
The Rangers winger already had the opening goal of the match on his account, so he turned the ball over to the penalty spot waiting on the spot For Teemu Puki.
Andorran topper Max Llovera was unhelpfully late. He lunged at Puk’s back, knocking him down probably the worst way he could.
That of the Estonian judge By Joonas Jaanovits however, there was no need to whistle.
The ball went into the net from the knee of the falling captain.
That was it. The 43rd complete hit of the national team career.
It will not go down in history as the most beautiful, at least not the most important.
However, it is absolutely the last of Puki’s Huuhkajat career.
Family included
The whole Andorra match was pure Pukki celebration. He carried the family from the pit in his arms when he led the Huuhkajat to the grass of the Tammela stadium.
Two older sisters were with them.
Puki’s family was closely involved in the farewell game. Jussi Saarinen
This was a national match, the result of which was of no importance (Finland won 4–0).
It was telling that Puki’s last touch with the ball was a pass Niklas Pyyhtien For the opening goal of Huuhakat’s career.
Pukki cheated Niklas Pyyhtiä’s first international goal of his career. Jussi Saarinen
– It probably started last night. Did I fall asleep at three? I just couldn’t sleep. Thoughts were running all over the place, and it was hard to sleep, Pukki described his celebration after the match.
– I’m more tired than usual. The whole day had an expectant feeling. A few tears came already in the morning when I saw some videos.
Puki had been given a small task in honor of his farewell.
– I had to give a speech before the game. I stressed it out and nothing really came of it. It was a difficult moment for me.
The day turned out to be pretty much what Pukki had planned.
– I was hoping for a goal. I really wanted to do that. It’s been a while since the last one. I wanted one more time to get some air in the Huuhkajat shirt.
It worked. In addition, the home team won.
– Tough but cool day.
The sound collapses
After Friday’s match against Malta at the Olympic Stadium, Pukki is in a great emotional state. And talking wasn’t easy in Tampere either.
For the last couple of days, he has been able to hear former and current teammates praising him as a friend.
– I have been most proud of those comments that have spoken about me as a person, and not just as a football player.
The answer remains unfinished because Puki’s voice breaks.
– I guess I have to thank my parents for the upbringing.
That’s where it ended. Benjamin Källman replaced Puk on the field. Jussi Saarinen
See you in the future
Pukki promises to support Huuhkaji from the stands and sometimes also at the Kalastajatorpa lodge.
– I’m going to bully these guys for sure at the hotel too. There are still a lot of best friends here. This has been the way to see them, Pukki promised.
The attacker will now be sidelined from national team activities. He becomes a fan waiting for results.
– Here, the gang has changed quite a lot. I see in training that there are a lot of potential guys. This year has not been as negative as it has been made out to be.
– We will fight for a race place again in the near future.
Finally, the party started in the 70th minute when the team manager Joonas Vilkki put Puki’s game number up on the board as a sign of changing the game number.
Every player came to thank the striker in the center circle. Lukas Hradecky was the last of them.
Pukki put the captain’s armband on his friend’s arm and walked off the field.
Teija (mother) and Cherry Goat (wife) wipe tears in the main stand. And the corner of Teemunka’s eye wasn’t dry.
– Of course, it is a great honor that I have been able to play for this long in the national team and that I have been able to help the team win with goals.
Pukki is above all a team player. You can also see it in the last press conference of his career.
– I am proud that I have been able to share these experiences with so many great players and great guys.
– For me, the greatest honor of my career has been the fact that I have been allowed to play in the national team.