The Finnish U15 development team faced the German regional team Green Machine from North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday. The Finns were leading by two touchdowns at halftime, but the Germans caught up with a touchdown in the final minute.

The Finnish U15 development team played a high-level friendly match against the German Green Machine. The teams have faced each other in alternate years, and this time it was Finland’s turn to host the game. A crowd of about two hundred gathered in the stands of Myyrmäki football stadium to cheer passionately for both teams.

Finland started the match strongly and managed to pull ahead to a comfortable 22-7 lead in the first half with two touchdowns from Leevi Kuoppala and one from Max Nevanen. Finland’s first extra point attempt failed, but the next two both earned two points from Vihtori Perkkiö’s runs. The Finnish coaching staff gave playing time to all three of their quarterbacks Joel Pyöriä, Vili Raatikainen, and Aaron Orvoma in the first half. Each of Finland’s quarterbacks recorded a successful TD pass.

The only German touchdown of the opening half was scored by running back Fjonn Leeve Kühn with a 75-yard touchdown run.

In the second half, the visitors managed to stop Finland’s offense. Kühn narrowed the score to 22–14 in the third quarter and ran for his third touchdown at the start of the final quarter after Finland lost the ball on their own half of the field. Nevertheless, Finland maintained a 22–20 lead into the last minute of the game.

Ultimately, Germany’s quarterback Ben Rüttgers found Guan-Gabriel Lust with a pass, who advanced to the end zone 23 seconds before the final whistle. A successful extra point kick sealed a five-point victory for the visitors.

Finland went scoreless in the second half.

Yards for the Germans 401-276

The Germans advanced a total of 401 yards in the match, with over half coming from Kühn’s runs. Finland advanced 276 yards on the field, of which 104 were rushing yards. Vihtori Perkkiö gained 66 yards. Among Finland’s receivers, Leevi Kuoppala gained 102 yards with his catches.

In Finland’s defense, Perkkiö, who worked in both directions, recorded 10 tackles. Artturi Lauhava and Ville Vepsäläinen each recorded six tackles in the game. In addition to his tackles, Vepsäläinen had two pass deflections.

In Green Machine’s defense, Julius-Alexander Butgenbach collected 6.5 tackles, and Magnus Bauer and Lars Becker had pass deflections.

The best players of the match were awarded to Germany’s Fjonn Leeve Kühn and Finland’s Vihtori Perkkiö.

The teams have now faced each other three times, and the victories are now 2-1 in favor of the Germans. Next fall, the tradition will continue at Green Machine’s home field in Germany.

Learn more: Match statistics

Watch: Match recording on YouTube

Match photos by Laura Helminen: U15-Green Machine 20092026