Inter Turku overturned a one-goal half-time deficit to defeat VPS 3-2 in the Suomen Cup semi-finals at Lemonsoft Stadion, advancing to the final. The match was won in a dominant second-half spell in which the away side scored three times in 27 minutes, a sequence that proved decisive even after VPS added a late consolation. The Lemeister model had given VPS a narrow 37 per cent win probability, making this a minor surprise, though the pre-match projection of a 2-1 scoreline was close to the final aggregate.
The opening goal arrived from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. M. Haukioja converted for VPS, sending his side into the interval with a lead that the balance of play had perhaps not fully warranted. VPS had controlled the first half through set-piece pressure and the penalty award came from a stoppage-time incident, but Inter Turku responded immediately after the restart. J. Tuominen equalised in the 48th minute, finishing a move started by J. Laine, and the pattern of the match shifted decisively.
Inter Turku’s midfield began to assert greater control after the equaliser. H. Salomaa put the away side ahead in the 63rd minute with a normal goal, and A. Conteh made it 3-1 in the 75th minute, a strike that effectively ended the contest. The three-goal burst inside 27 minutes was built on superior transition play and a more effective use of possession in the final third, even if the overall statistical picture remained relatively balanced. VPS were left chasing the game, and their efforts became more disjointed as Inter Turku’s lead grew.
The discipline of both sides held up for most of the match, with only two yellow cards issued. E. Okereke was cautioned for VPS in the 82nd minute, and P. Ahiabu received a yellow for Inter Turku in the 88th minute. The substitutions were also evenly spread, with VPS making four changes and Inter Turku making five, reflecting the intensity of a semi-final where both managers sought fresh legs.
The final act of the match saw Haukioja score his second penalty of the night in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. The goal reduced the deficit to one but came too late to force extra time. Haukioja was the only multiple scorer on the night, accounting for both of VPS’s goals from the spot, a return that underlined his composure under pressure even in a losing cause.
Despite the late flourish, VPS could not recover from the middle period of the second half when Inter Turku’s attacking line proved too sharp. The Lemeister model’s pre-match read had forecast a close game, and the eventual scoreline of 3-2 reflected the narrow margins that decided a semi-final settled by the away side’s superior finishing in a 27-minute window. Haukioja’s brace was the standout individual contribution for VPS, but Inter Turku’s collective response after the interval earned them a place in the Suomen Cup final. For VPS, the defeat ends their cup run at the semi-final stage, while Inter Turku move on with confidence.
