HJK win women’s Finnish Cup after thrilling final in Tampere

HJK are women’s Finnish Cup champions again, but they had to survive a dramatic local derby against HPS before securing a 3-1 victory in extra time at Tammela Stadium in Tampere.

HJK started aggressively, pressing high and trying to force HPS back. The pressure produced the opening goal in the 32nd minute, when Kerttu Sarelius headed in Lacee Bethea’s cross. HPS responded seven minutes later as Tessa Perttula found the far corner from a tight angle, catching HJK goalkeeper Annika Laihanen by surprise.

The match remained tightly contested after the break. Sarelius, who had scored HJK’s opener, injured her knee and had to leave the field. HJK held more possession, while HPS continued to threaten on the counterattack. Miho Kanogawa hit the post for HJK, and HPS goalkeeper or defenders repeatedly survived late pressure as the game moved toward extra time.

The decisive moment came after the ball had gone close to HPS’s goal several times. The referee reviewed a possible handball in the HPS penalty area and awarded a penalty after the ball was judged to have struck Eevi Paakkari’s hand. Milja Kiviranta converted confidently.

HPS later appeared to have another penalty awarded, but an offside decision had come first. HJK held firm, and Isabella Ylätalo scored in stoppage time to seal the club’s fourth consecutive Cup title. For HPS, the final marked the first women’s Finnish Cup final in the club’s history.