Narpes Kraft 2-3 FC Vaajakoski | Ykkonen, 26 July 2026

A dramatic stoppage‑time winner from FC Vaajakoski completed a thrilling 3‑2 comeback victory over Narpes Kraft on Sunday night, as the visitors moved into the upper half of the Ykkonen table. The match, played under the floodlights in Narpes, featured four goals in the second half and a late twist that left the home side shell‑shocked.

Match Overview

Narpes Kraft started brightly and deservedly took the lead just after the half‑hour mark. A slick passing move carved open the Vaajakoski defence, and striker Eemeli Honkala slotted home from close range. The home side pressed for a second before the break but were denied by a combination of wayward finishing and an alert stop from Vaajakoski goalkeeper Jussi Saarinen.

The visitors emerged with renewed energy after half‑time. Within five minutes of the restart, FC Vaajakoski equalised through a powerful header by centre‑back Mikko Turunen from a corner kick. The momentum had shifted, and in the 62nd minute winger Ville Koskinen put Vaajakoski ahead with a curling effort from the edge of the box that clipped the post on its way in.

Narpes Kraft refused to fold. They levelled in the 78th minute when substitute Juhani Lehtonen pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and smashed it into the roof of the net. The home fans sensed a point, but Vaajakoski had other ideas.

Key Moments

• 31’ – Honkala finishes calmly after a one‑two on the edge of the box – 1‑0
• 50’ – Turunen heads home from a corner – 1‑1
• 62’ – Koskinen curls a beauty inside the far post – 1‑2
• 78’ – Lehtonen equalises with a powerful close‑range finish – 2‑2
• 90+3’ – Vaajakoski counter‑attack culminates in a deflected strike by Antti Mäkelä – 2‑3

Tactical Story

Narpes Kraft dominated the first half with a 4‑3‑3 shape that overloaded the wide areas, but their failure to convert more than one chance proved costly. FC Vaajakoski adjusted at the break, switching to a more compact 4‑4‑2 and pressing higher up the pitch. That change unsettled the home midfield and allowed the visitors to win second balls and launch quick transitions. The winning goal came directly from a turnover in midfield.

Standout Players

• Ville Koskinen (FC Vaajakoski) – A constant threat on the left flank, scored one and assisted the equaliser with a pinpoint corner.
• Juhani Lehtonen (Narpes Kraft) – Came off the bench to score a crucial equaliser, gave the home side hope.
• Antti Mäkelä (FC Vaajakoski) – Showed composure in stoppage time to score the winner, his first goal of the season.

Table Impact

The win lifts FC Vaajakoski to sixth in the Ykkonen standings, now level on points with the playoff spots. Narpes Kraft, meanwhile, remain in the bottom half, three points above the relegation zone. Both sides will be back in action next weekend as the race for the top four intensifies.

For the neutral, this was the kind of absorbing contest that the Ykkonen has increasingly delivered – attacking intent, late drama, and a result that could have gone either way until the very last kick.