Football | The fall of the spectator overshadowed and delayed KuPS’s cup celebration – in the end, however, there was some reassuring information

Kuopio On Saturday, the football club celebrated the second consecutive and the fourth victory in its history in the men’s Finnish Cup at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, when Turku’s Inter fell Gabriel Bispon by hitting 1–0.

The goal had to wait until the final stages of the game, but KuPS was largely in possession of the match and there was no knocking on the beak from “earning” the victory.

In May of last year, KuPS returned as cup champions after a 32-year hiatus by beating HJK in a penalty shootout after a goalless period and overtime.

Extra time loomed even now, but the resistance of the Turku people was finally broken in the 88th minute when substitute Bispo headed the KuPS captain Henri Toivomäki focus on the goal.

KuPS coach Simo Valakari was extremely satisfied with his own performance.

“An excellent game was played. Controlled from beginning to end, even though Inter had a few half-hearted places. We were really cool and calm with the ball, and dangerous enough. And that award was received, and if you look at the game alone, we deserved this victory”, Valakari rejoiced.

“The opening half was reasonable, we also created chances. In the second half, KuPS was better then, there’s nothing you can do,” summed up Inter’s coach Miguel Grau.

Along with the trophy, KuPS received 50,000 euros and a guaranteed place in next year’s Conference League qualifiers.

“Now let’s enjoy a couple of days, and then it’s back to the league. Every team wants to get to Europe, and now it’s already guaranteed. We have also been given the opportunity to play for the championship, now we get to enjoy the league and in some ways even less pressure”, Valakari was happy that the “European qualification pressure” was relieved.

At the Olympic Stadium the cup final was watched by more than 3,300 spectators, and the atmosphere was very good even after the sun came down after the rain in the opening period.

But there was also a dark cloud: during the victory celebration, a KuPS supporter fell from the stand to a lower level.

After uncertain and anxious moments, the stadium announced that the fallen spectator was not in danger, and the crowd gave a relieved applause.

The KuPS players waited for the winning trophy to be lifted while the fallen spectator was treated. Defender Diogo Tomas said that even the players were unsure about the events, but in the end the trophy was lifted and the yellow and black party started properly.

“This team is so unique, it feels like you can go to the moon and back. A journey together, and fortunately there is still more to come”, beamed Tomas.

With Tomas there is also a new journey starting this week, namely, according to the national team, towards the Romania and Montenegro games of the League of Nations. The head coach Markku Kanervan the call surprised Tomas.

“It means a lot, a great opportunity. We try to take care of it as well as possible, and yes, it is a big goal to be able to be a leading figure there as well”, Tomas stated and mused that luckily he answered the call from an unknown number.

“My heart skipped a beat. I spoke, but I was not inside my head but somewhere higher. An unforgettable moment.”