Floorball: Otto Lehkosuo tells why he wears a rainbow ribbon

Indians–Classic 4–5 (Wins 1–3)

From Espoo Indians and Tampereen Classic continued their extremely even semi-final series at Espoo’s Otahall.

The earlier matches of the series were precise, but on Wednesday the game was more open. The solution was seen at the beginning of the third period, where Classic jerked to a two-goal runaway, and the Indians, despite fierce pressure, couldn’t get close anymore.

“When they are given a lead even for a moment, Classic takes advantage of it. It’s a shame,” the captain of the Indians Otto Lehkosuo amount

Opening set left the Indians with plenty to worry about. The home team came rushing out of the gates, took advantage of possession of the ball in the attacking area and accelerated to a two-goal runaway in 7:42.

The events after the 2–0 goal sparked controversy, when Classic’s national team striker Oskari Heikkilä crashed badly late goal scorer Niko Einiö. No punishment was imposed for the situation.

The audience in Otahalli booed furiously when a slow-motion image of the situation was shown on the video board. It clearly showed that Heikkilä slowed down and sought contact with Einiö, who fanned the goal.

“It felt like there were a few situations where there was a clear box, but we didn’t get the better of them,” Lehkosuo said.

A couple of minutes later, the Indians were fooling around on the field as well as on the bench.

The guests’ number one star Alpo Laitila cut off Jere Niemelän a bad stray pass and narrowed it down to 1–2. The stray pass was preceded by a small contact by a Classic player in the middle area, which the Indians challenged with little success. With the superiority that followed the failed challenge, Classic hit the game levels.

“I saw the situation at a glance. They shouted from the bench that a challenge would be called. I can’t say more precisely. In hindsight, of course, it wouldn’t have been worth challenging,” Lehkosuo said after the game.

The momentum turned like magic to the visitors. Even the cheering home crowd died down to excitement in silence, but the Indians made it to the break without any setbacks.

Second installment served up a surprisingly large number of quick stray passes and ball losses, as in the opening twenties.

Indians Third Havulan a sloppy drop pass went straight Will Lastikan to the running line. He nailed from a half drive accurately into the back corner.

Havula acknowledged his mistake even before the half of the set. Samuli Junnila seized the ball in the middle area and passed to Havula, whose fiery shot hit the net and tied the score at 3–3.

The Indians seemed the more nervous of the teams. The home team had the referees who drew the line allowing this. The away team, on the other hand, watched the judges’ screens stoically and played according to them.

“It’s easy to take it stoically when you get the upper hand all the time. The referees said during the second set break that in the last couple of games every 50/50 situation has undeniably turned to Classic”, Lehkosuo wondered.

According to the captain, the Indians’ bench behavior was still better on Wednesday than in previous games.

The match after, Lehkosuo signed autographs for enthusiastic juniors. The arm of the star defender, who has played three World Cups in Finland’s shirt, has been tripped up by the captain’s armband, which is the color of the rainbow, for the entire season.

Lehkosuo, 29, thinks that sport belongs to everyone.

“I try to normalize it with such a small gesture, which I can do. For me, they are self-evident values, which unfortunately are not clear to everyone.”

The rainbow symbols came to the surface in the sports discussion and became a divisive topic in February, when TPS’s SM league team Brother Matti Savinainen refused “citing his conviction” to wear a jersey decorated with rainbow symbols in the Turku pride match.

Lehkosuo says that he has received no feedback about the captain’s armband.

“I understand the point of view that sport is sport and other things are kept separate from it. For our team, these self-evident values ​​that everyone subscribes to. No one should be forced, but I myself like to represent these values.”

Series of matches is on break for Classic on Friday in Lempäälä. In the second semi-final series, Nokian KrP leads the Oilers with a 2–1 victory. The teams meet on Thursday in Espoo’s Tapiola at 18:30. Advances to the final with four wins.