This is where promotion is well and truly on the line. Tonight we’ll face Viialan Peli-Veikot (ViiPV), who are second in the table two points behind TamU-K. If we win tonight, we will be five points ahead of the team who looks to be our main contender for direct promotion, and we will have a game in hand to boot. This would be a great way to go to the short Midsummer break, and to make things even better, other contenders would be nine points behind, which seems very comfortable in terms of at least finishing second in the table and getting to the promotion playoff match.

The team is getting into the match in a reasonably good shape. The injury situation is a bit unclear with a few players, but with Timo Kauppinen, Jesse Kupiainen, and Mika Kytöviita back with the team, we can withstand a few absences. Presumably Kauppinen pairs up with Juha Kumara as a center back, and Otto Pitkänen moves to his more comfortable full back role. For Pitkänen this should be a good move, as his return to the team did not go too well as a center back on Saturday. Jesse Kupiainen probably starts in the middle in place of Anssi Saiha, whose injury situation is day-to-day from what I heard. Kytöviita returned from a trip abroad yesterday, so he might not start, especially as Jan Irjala has played very well in the peak spot.

Our first meeting with ViiPV was the first match of the season for both of us. A lot has happened since then, so one cannot draw too many conclusions based on that match. That time the match went to extra time at 1-1, and Nawar Karikuss was the match hero with his 112th minute goal. He is available for this match too, and might get a chance to do something similar as a substitute, even if getting a lot of playing tie behind the likes of Irjala, Kytöviita, and Jacin Dakkaki does not seem too likely.

The importance of this match is not limited just to the three points that are up for grabs, but this one is mentally very important too. If we win this one, and continue to win when play resumes after Midsummer, ViiPV might soon give up hope on catching us to gain direct promotion. On the other hand, if ViiPV wins this one, they know that everything is still in their own hands. We have an opportunity to gain a mental edge over ViiPV tonight, and we need to seize that opportunity.

The match starts at 8.00 pm at our second home in Kaukajärvi. The larger field is a factor that will make this match different than the one we played at the start of the season in Pyynikki. I do believe it will work in our favor, but you’ll have to be there to see for yourself!