September 23 & 24, 2020
Wednesday 23rd September
FC Haka 0-2 RoPS ( att : 1,608 )
Gasp, shock ! RoPS recorded their first league win of the season at their 17th attempt, and it was fully deserved. They actually looked quite dangerous on the counter attack. On 61 minutes Rahimi’s through ball between the square Haka centre-backs put Banza clear to poke home, and 10 minutes later Banza was hauled down for a penalty when clear again. Rahimi sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. After all they have been through so far this season, the 25 travelling fans were deliriously happy !
Haka looked poor, and their best chance came when Vahtera turned and sent a 35 yard effort narrowly over the bar. Vahtera plays for RoPS !
IFK Mariehamn 0-2 FC Ilves ( att : 920 )
Two left footed second half goals from 18 year old substitute Naatan Skytta moved Ilves upto sixth place, leapfrogging Mariehamn. Skytta started the move for the first goal, and showed good anticipation to get to the far post to intelligently finish. A give and go put him clear for the second goal, and as the keeper committed himself, Skytta deftly chipped the ball over him into the net. A seven minute hat-track was only denied by a fine save by Mariehamn keeper Forsman.
Unlike last weekend at HIFK, Mariehamn were unable to fight back from 0-2 and Ademi, the league’s top scorer was anonymous. Ilves keeper Hilander probably won’t have an easier game all season
Inter Turku 0-0 FC Honka ( att : 1,554 )
FC Honka played out a second consecutive 0-0 draw to remain fourth, with only 9 goals conceded all season, and with just one loss. Their problem though is scoring goals, with just 18 in 16 matches. Inter extended their winless run to 7 matches, and have failed to score in their last three games. Inter stay third but are slipping behind the top two.
Perhaps this encounter may have been different had Kandji taken his chance when put clear in the first minute but the Honka forward’s weak shot was pushed away for a corner. For much of the match both sides were reduced to long range efforts straight at the keeper for routine saves, although Inter left back Haukioja did force Honka’s US keeper Tim Murray into making one smart tip over the bar.
Inter did push for the winning goal in the closing minutes, Haukioja delivered an inviting cross to the back post but Valencic headed too close to Murray, who was able to push it away. In injury time Valencic shot from a similar position but again Murray was able to block, and from the melee at the resulting corner Murray was able to grab the ball on the goal-line.
SJK Seinajoki 0-1 FC Lahti ( att : 2,320 )
SJK’s winning run came to an end as two evenly matched teams played out a close encounter, which was settled by one moment of magic from Assehnoun, Lahti’s leading goal scorer, who cut in from the left to send a curling 20 yard effort into the top corner.
SJK thought they had taken the lead in the 60th minute after a goalmouth scramble where the ball bounced twice on top of the bar before being deflected into the net of a defender and the keeper, but it was disallowed, possibly for offside.
SJK launched a grandstand finish in their effort to snatch a point. Ledezma saw his close range effort blocked, Vainionpaa shot inches wide and SJK keeper Ost, after coming up for a corner, had to intercept a potential breakaway with a first time long range shot which forced a diving save from Rakovsky.
Thursday 24th September
HJK Helsinki 2-2 TPS ( att : 1,611 )
HJK moved one point ahead of KuPS at the top of the Veikkausliiga but with two games more played, and will be kicking themselves for dropping points here. Leading 2-0 with 3 minutes to play, and only good keeping from Koponen, the woodwork and some bad finishing had kept the score down to just Riku Riski’s deflected shot and Vayrynen’s close range finish. However, HJK keeper Keto allowed Aaritalo’s weak effort to squirm through his hands and under his body and over the line. Then in injury time, at the near post Tehe should have tucked home Muzaci’s low cross but Holma at the back post did to give TPS an important point in their relegation battle and to send HJK into a further state of shock.
Europa League
KuPS 2-0 FK Suduva ( behind closed doors )
Brazilian striker Rangel set KuPS on the path to victory in the 31st minute, being the quickest to react to Tarasov’s headed flick to loop the ball over Suduva keeper Kardum as he came off his line. Pingel had two good chances to increase the lead, but Croatian Josip Tadic should have equalised in the 63rd minute, but sliced his shot horribly wide from around 8 yards. Latvian Tarasov sealed the win in the 72nd minute with a thumping header from Pikk’s corner giving Kardum no chance, much to the delight of the hundred or so KuPS fans watching behind the fence at the far end of the stadium !
KuPS progress to the final qualifying round where they will visit Romanian Champions CFR Cluj.
Next Fixtures
Sunday 27th September 18.30 local/16.30 UK
IFK Mariehamn vs KuPS
FC Honka vs FC Haka
FC Ilves vs TPS
Monday 28th September - 18.30 local/16.30 UK
HJK Helsinki vs RoPS
Inter Turku vs FC Lahti
SJK Seinajoki vs HIFK
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