Football | Kotka is back on the Veikkausliiga map – the promotion was confirmed on Sunday in Tammisaari

Rasepori

EIF had been undefeated for KTP in the first two matches of the men’s First Division football season. On Sunday, KTP claimed a 2–1 victory over Tammisaari and secured promotion to the main league.

A draw would have been enough for the Eagles, who were relegated from the football league at the end of last season, to seal promotion.

“We didn’t go for a draw, we had the win in mind. Of course, everyone understands the use of reason in, for example, the situation if the game had been exactly two minutes before the end”, KTP’s Lassi Nurmos said.

EIF led 1-0 at the break, but at the beginning of the second half the script changed. The home team Bruno Miguel sent off for another yellow card, and David Ramadingaye scored a 1-1 equalizer from the penalty kick following a hand foul. He scored the winning goal Miguel Angel Junco Martinez i.e. Mika.

“It felt pretty good to score a goal, I’ve been training for these moments for years. But what matters more is that we got the job done right. At this moment, he probably still doesn’t understand the victory and rise of the series”, Ramadingaye, who wore the captain’s armband in KTP, rejoiced.

KTP players and fans celebrate together on the field after the game ends.

“I think the party has already started. The power will take, we will certainly celebrate now and separately at the end of the season. These are not going to end immediately”, Nurmos surmised.

KTP has played a strong summer, with 17 wins and four draws out of 26 games. Rising immediately after a fall is anything but obvious.

“In Christmas-January, the team was pretty beat up, but the clubs have committed themselves to the process wonderfully. Hats off,” the team’s head coach Jussi Leppälahti told.

The upper secondary series ends on Saturday, and KTP’s last opponent is TPS. The KTP pilot said that after that there will be a four-week holiday in November.

“The construction of next season starts in December. After all, we are already built for next season (earlier), but you have to know how to relax as well.”