A night of near-misses finally turned on one sharp finish: Väisänen broke the deadlock late, and Jäähonka Espoo left Vaasa with a 1-0 win. For Vaasan Sport, the narrow defeat also ended an unbeaten home start to the season, after a contest in which chances repeatedly came close but the goalkeepers kept the scoreboard blank.
How the Game Played Out
The first period set a pattern of pressure without reward. George Diago found the post with an attempt from behind the net, while Sport built chances through Sveikovski and Tuomaala. One promising look ended with Tuomaala unable to get his stick to Sveikovski's pass. At the other end, Sport's Härkönen turned aside Espoo's opportunities, helping preserve a scoreless game despite dangerous looks around the crease.
The second period brought more of the same close calls. Sveikovski found Öbäri in traffic, but the chance did not get past Härkönen; another Sveikovski attempt struck the post. Sport also had opportunities to take control. Nieminen hit the post on a power play, and Lajunen sent a pass slowly through the goalmouth without a teammate able to redirect it. Härkönen made a visible save on Corren's attempt, while Espoo's pressure was met by further stops from the Sport netminder. Neither side could find the finish, and the game remained 0-0.
The deadlock held into the closing minutes. With three minutes left, Koivisto had a chance at the far post after Sundström moved the puck across, but he could not get his blade on it. Then Sport lost possession in its own end. Lajunen moved the puck forward, and Väisänen made the decisive play, firing a shot past Härkönen for the only goal of the night. The broadcast called it Väisänen's third goal of the season. That finish turned a tense, goalless contest into a 1-0 Espoo victory.
What the Result Means
The win gives Jäähonka Espoo a response after entering the game on the back of a defeat, while Sport's previous loss to Kärpät meant both teams were looking to rebound. For Sport, the result is especially notable because the team had been unbeaten at home this season before this game. A night dominated by saves and posts offered little separation until the final minutes, when one turnover and one accurate shot proved enough.
The scoreline leaves the broader standings picture unstated, but the immediate shift in momentum is clear: Espoo takes the win, and Sport must regroup after its first home setback of the season. Sport will look to turn its next home opportunity into a fresh start.
Watch the Highlights
See the late winner and the goalmouth chances that kept the game scoreless for so long in the official Liiga highlights. Watch the video above for the full sequence, including Väisänen's decisive finish.
Final Score: Jäähonka Espoo 1, Vaasan Sport 0.
Source: Liiga official YouTube highlights and supplied match data
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