It's finally football time again! A long winter break lies behind us. We trained very well, improved our techniques, our stamina, our tactical understanding and our teamspirit. We had a couple of test games and on Saturday, 11.5.2019, our season started with a home game against TUS yj.

While we play in the 2004-born league, more than half of our girls are 2005- and even 2006-born. We didn't know before the game, how that would play out this season. TUS had taller players than us, but as the end result shows, that doesn't automatically lead to a victory.

Before the game, we took a team photo. Our new captain Siiri got a new captain's band, sponsored by Finland's "Show Racism The Red Card"-project. We're proud to be part of this project as you can see on the following picture:

The weather was good, sun was shining. Our game was the pre-game for the men's derby later that day: our edustusjoukkue against our second team. Both play in Vitonen. It was the official opening day of the season and we already had about 90 spectators watching our game. We did as good warm-up as possible:

And then it was time to play the game.

After a long break, it is not easy to get back into the game riddim. We therefore had a very difficult first 15 minutes while we were trying to get into the right groove. Eventually we got control of the game and after half an hour, we dominated the game until the end. We had a big squad today and we substituted everyone every 20 minutes to ensure as much playing time as possible for everyone as equally as possible. Today, our substitutes worked out very well and changed the energy on the field towards us. The substituted players tried to cool down next to the bench (is Finnish summer here after all?):

Let's break down the game minute by minute:

3. First corner for us. Blocked. Right away the second corner. The goalkeeper saves the shot.

4. The defense stood too offensively and a through-pass sent a striker alone towards our goal. Alma, in her first official football game ever, came out of the goal some 30 meters, but the striker curved around her and put the ball into the empty goal, 0-1.

10. The game is very chaotic and positions are not being held at all. But out of a sudden, Siiri chips the ball behind TUS' defense line. The goalkeeper hesitates to come out of her goal. Pinja uses this moment to run away from her opponent and shoot the ball above the keeper under the crossbar, 1-1.

12. Oosa's shot from 22 meters is swiped by the keeper to the right post of her goal. The rebound bounces into the keeper's hands.

13. Oosa wins the ball on the half-left wing, moves between two defenders and puts the ball into the left corner of the goal, 2-1.

14. One of our defenders passes the ball straight to her opponent. She runs away and puts the ball easily into the right corner of our goal, 2-2.

16. Oosa passes to Pinja who runs away from her opponent again (now you know why we did speed training in the winter ;-) ). The goalkeeper rushes out of the goal, Pinja shoots at her, the ball bounces back at Pinja and rolls into the empty goal. A defender still tries to kick the ball away, but it was already behind the goalline. A bit unconventional, this goal, 3-2.

19. Siiri gets fouled some 20 meters in front of the goal. Having trained freekicks, she takes the responsibility herself - and kicks a tough shot straight to the crossbar. Did we do too much crossbar-shootouts in the trainings? Her second freekick in a row at the crossbar. ;-) The ball bounces back and Anni puts the rebound to the right of the goal.

20. We substitute 6 times.

22. Dangerous freekick situation for the opponent on the left side of our penalty area. The shot misses our goal.

24. Turns out that 7 players left the field, so we played with only 10 players for 4 minutes. Pinja is being put back on the field. She immediately gets the ball and almost scores again. But her shot hits the keeper. Could this be a new tactical trick? Take out the striker for a few minutes to confuse the center backs who suddenly don't have an opponent anymore. Then strike back like the Empire. Just kidding.

27. Aada wins the ball on the left side and initiates a counter attack. Leonna is then send down the right wing, but an opponent slides into her way and causes our third corner.

31. After a pass from Siiri, Leonna does one of her power-runs on the right wing, just like 4 minutes ago and she gets the 4th corner for us. We try one of our tricks, but it misses the goal by a bit.

33. Pinja passes to Oona J who quickly finishes with a shot from 20 meter. The keeper paries.

36. Janita wins the ball on the right defense side in a very difficult counter attack situation. She remains calm and passes the ball forward to Siiri as if it would be the easiest thing in the world. Siiri passes to Pinja who passes to Oosa who tricks two defenders and marks the 4-2. Now that is pod-racing. I mean, football.

37. Oosa's shoes break and Anni gets an unexpected extra 3 minutes playing time.

38. A genius pass from Siiri to Pinja who once again runs away from her opponent. But again, the keeper eventually wins this situation. Keeper 3, Pinja 2. ;-)

40. Seconds before half-time, TUS has a huge 3-times-chance within our penalty area. Huh huh. Luck was on our side there.

43. Our defense line is open like the gate of Winterfell after the Night King came, but TUS has no luck as a very tough shot misses our goal by a few centimeters.

45. Siiri tricks 2, then passes to Oosa who tricks 2 and then shoots at the goal. The (newly substituted) goalkeeper (much smaller than the previous one) only gets her fingertips at the ball and cannot prevent the 5-2.

46. TUS immediately answers. A striker breaks through, but Alma comes out of her goal and wins the 1v1 situation 15 meters in front of the goal.

48. Siiri wins the ball in the center. Everyone expects a pass to Anni who is completely free on the left, but instead she lobs the ball over the surprised keeper and scores the 6-2.

50. Our defense passes the ball to the opponent (please stop doing that, thank you) and their fast striker runs alone towards our goal again. Alma comes out and saves the shot 14 meters outside of her goal with a spectacular reflex.

52. Time for some kaunispallo again: Throw-in Ronja to Siiri, drop back to Ronja, directly to Oosa, one turn, back to Siiri, dribbling into the penalty area, left foot shot - a bit to the right of the goal. Tiki-taka ina Ylivieska-style.

56. Siiri gets fould at the middle line. The defense line stands too open. Cross behind the line to Oosa who is all alone and chips the ball over the keeper who stood too wide in front of her goal, 7-2.

58. TUS' keeper kicks the ball at Ronja, from her back it bounces to Anni who reacts quickly, but her shot gets saved by a defender on the goalline. The ball bounces to Oona K who passes to Anni who shoots again, but misses the goal on the left side. Almost her first goal as a 2006-player in a 2004-series. Maybe next game. :-)

58. Only seconds later, Siiri gets the ball in the center and shoots from 25 meters. The ball slipped through the keepers hands, 8-2.

61. Siiri passes to Pinja passes to Anni. Nice passing triangle. Still no luck for Anni todaz. The keeper paries her shot.

62. Pinja breaks through once again, but the shot is too high.

66. 5th corner for us, this time on the left side. Milja's finish misses the goal on the left.

68. 6th corner.

72. Excellent pass from Oosa to Oona J who moved to a free space. Her shot goes above the goal though.

74. 7th corner.

75. 8th corner. Counter attack for TUS. Great blocking by Janita who saves the situation.

77. We have slowed down our pace quite a bit during the last 10 minutes. The concentration is gone. No wonder at such a result. TUS gets another chance, but their last shot today misses our left post by half a meter.

80. Aada wins the ball very strongly on the left wing and forwards it to Pinja. Pinja then passes to Siiri who moves between two defenders and shoots the ball under the crossbar, 9-2. Soon after the good referee ended the game.

After a rough first 10 minutes of the season, we found our playing riddim and were able to play our attacking game like in the training. Our defense work was a bit sloppy today, but we will continue working on it. All in all, it was a very good game from us against an opponent who gave their best, but couldn't compete with our style today.

Our next game is on Monday, 20th May in Pietarsaari against FC United. We had two test games against them. In January we lost 1-5, in March 2-4. Next time we will win?