21-9-2024 KuPS 2 Inter Turku 1 Finnish Cup final.

KuPS secured their fifth Finnish Cup crown with this extra time defeat of Inter Turku before 6,000 fans in Tampere.

The team from Kuopio topped the league in the regular season and went into this final as favourites although they did ultimately need their inspirational captain Petteri Pennanen to deliver two crucial goals.

In bright but chilly conditions this Finnish Cup final began, perhaps as expected, cautiously.

Although an Oksanen free kick did strike the woodwork mid-way through the first half.

Both him and Siltanen, of KuPS, had a number of opportunities to deliver set plays without breaking through.

While Inter’s all-African forward line (Botue, Kouame, and South African Darren Smith) had few chances to shine.

Hence the first period ended goalless.

That changed on the hour when KuPS defender Miettinen dwelt on the ball allowing Kouame (Ivory Coast) to dispossess him and cross for a simple finish by Smith.

Soon after Inter might have gone two up as Burkina Faso’s Botue broke clear only for goalie Kreidl to smother his effort.

It seemed for a while that the favourites were unsettled by the goal and they took some time to reply.

But step forward the captain, Pennanen, a past regular in the League Team of the Year, to find space in the area and strike home a late equaliser.

That left the game tied at ninety minutes with KuPS now having the momentum.

And a couple of minutes after the start of extra time Pennanen produced a fine right foot drive (which he celebrated by running the length of the field back to his own fans) to make it 2-1.

That turned out to be a great winner although Inter did keep battling, with sub. Legbo (Ivory Coast) often a lively presence.

But despite the late pressure KuPS held on (with Ivorian Ibrahim Cisse solid in central defence) to claim their third Cup out of the last four years.

And no doubt who was man of the match - Petteri Pennanen.

Report - John Bethell 

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