Today’s match against YlöR/2 was practically over in 10 minutes. By that time TamU-K had scored twice and had won at least half a dozen corners, while the opponent had controlled the ball in TamU-K’s half of the field only a handful of times. The rest of the match was really just a formality, even if no more goals were seen in the first half. The second half provided three more, and the final scoreline was a comfortable 5-0.

The atmosphere at the match was weird. Just 15 minutes before the start of the match it was not even certain that the opponent would be able to get 11 men on the field today. In the end they did, but it seemed that many of them had not played regularly for YlöR/2 this season, based on the fact that they did not even have jerseys on them but rather used an orange west that was similar enough to the red and white stripes of the YlöR/2 jersey. All respect to the guys who were brought in, but some of them seemed to be well past their 40th birthday, and not surprisingly had trouble keeping up with the pace and physical play of TamU-K players. For the supporters all this made it hard to get the normal intensity going. There was chanting and singing, but it was not as frequent as in a completely serious match.

Indeed, TamU-K had chances to at least triple the scoreline, but it seemed as if the theme of the day was to only score beautiful goals. For me the man of the match was once again Jose Chemlal, who set up the 1-0 and 3-0 goals and scored the 2-0 goal from a free kick from about 20 meters out. Another hero was Nawar Karikuss, who secured a brace with those 1-0 and 3-0 goals set up by Chemlal.

Tamu-K also added a new goal scorer for the season, as our excellent right back Alaa Adeeb finally got one in. It resulted from a brilliant run to the middle from the right side of the field. There were three YlöR/2 players close by, but Adeeb ran past them and left them watching as he shot the ball into the goal from about 30 meters out, hitting the left post as it went in. The goalie, who played an excellent match denying several goals, was left with no chance with this one. So here we have it, Alaa Adeeb, our 19th goal scorer this season.

The final goal on the night was scored by Joonas Niemelä. It was only his second goal of the season, and based on the celebration it felt really good to put the ball in from the left hand corner of the penalty area, via the crossbar near the right hand corner of the goal. He ran across the field to celebrate with the supporters. Such a great moment for him and the supporters alike.

Not surprisingly there were players from both of our rival teams, Ikurin Vire and Pelikassit, present at the match. They were all sent home disappointed. Pelikassit could have secured promotion tonight if we had dropped points, but presumably they feel more at ease with the situation they are in than players of the team from Ikuri. Namely, Vire must now win both Pelikassit as well as TamU-K in order to make it to the promotion playoffs. That task must seem almost impossible now, especially as in the match against Pelikassit on Saturday Pelikassit will have promotion on the line.

The best result for us in that match between Vire and Pelikassit is a tie. In that case we’d still have a theoretical chance at direct promotion while we’d also secure at least the second spot and promotion playoffs. If Pelikassit win Vire, our last match against Vire becomes completely meaningless, as it would mean that we’d finish second in the table regardless of the result. This would probably be the second best scenario, as then we could start concentrating on those crucial promotion matches. And of course if Vire wins the match against Pelikassit, the second spot and the berth in the promotion playoffs will be decided a week later when TamU-K and Vire play each other at Ikuri.

Looking at potential second place teams from other subdivisions, nobody can surpass us in points per match, so if we do make it to the promotion playoffs, those matches will all be home matches. But before we get there, we may still have business to take care of. And even if Vire blows it before we even have to play them, I’m sure that we will go to the last match with a firm intention of winning it. Nothing will prepare the team better for the crucial promotion matches.

But let’s first get there. We may not have to do anything to accomplish that, but if we do, it will all be in our own hands, and there’s no reason to think the team wouldn’t be up to the task.