It is finally here. For the past couple months, at least, we have been wondering when we would play the match where promotion is on the line. Now that we know that it happens in Viiala in a match against the second-place team ViiPV, I think many would say it could not have been a more appropriate match. Of course in a sense it would be nice to have the first shot at promotion in a home match, but to be completely honest, having already experienced one promotion in Pyynikki a year ago, going to the nearest rival’s home ground with a plan to celebrate promotion is awesome. It would indeed be hard to top last year’s promotion final, and now we get to do something different.

The supporters are taking an early train to the match, arriving in Viiala more than two hours before kick-off. That gives us a lot of time to prepare for the match. We really do not have a choice anyway, since the next train arrives mere five minutes before kick-off, and is obviously not an option. I do not know what exactly will be the plan for those two hours, but I’m pretty sure it will be fun. At this point it is difficult to make a guess as to how many of us will be there, but 50 might come close. However, if a lot of the people who do not normally stand with Sinikaarti decide to make this trip, our numbers might be much higher. I really do hope that this will happen.

My confidence in the team is high ahead of the match. Just like last year’s team, they have already shown that they tend to play their best matches against better opponents and when the stakes are high. Another reason to be optimistic is that the flu epidemic that took players out from the last match seems to be over, and we will go to Viiala with a very strong team and a full bench. The most notable absence, apart from the long term injuries, is Adnan Omerovic. That is truly a pity, since he was in great form last weekend against VesVi, and it would have been great to see how he would have done against a much better team.

Past matches against ViiPV have been tight ones. Our first meeting was the season opener in the Finnish Regions’ Cup, which we won 2-1 with a second half equalizer and an extra time goal. In June we had our second meeting, which we won 2-0 with two second half goals. I would not be surprised if two goals were enough for the victory this time as well. Indeed, there has been only one time either team has conceded more than two goals in Vitonen this season, and even that one was a 4-3 victory for ViiPV.

None of this history really matters though. Now is the time for us to achieve what we have been after since last fall. All the victories that we got during the season got us here, but as always, ultimately the success of the season will be decided in a single match. It does not necessarily have to be this one, but nobody really wants to even think about the other options right now.

The match kicks off in Viiala at 6 pm on Friday. For those that cannot be there, ViiPV will have a live stream at http://www.viipv.fi/index.php?page=viipvtv. For our friends in Seattle, kick-off will be 8 am on Friday your time. For those in Finland, you really ought to do your darnedest to actually be there rather than just watch the stream.