October 1, 2 & 4, 2020
Thursday 1st October – Europa League
CFR Cluj 3-1 KuPS ( att : 0 )
Predictably KupS exited the Europa League on a sodden pitch in Romania, but at times they gave the Romanian champions plenty to worry about. KuPS got off to the worst possible start when Venezuelan Mario Rondon was able to outjump the defenders to head home a corner from inside the 6 yard box, but KuPS responded well, creating a number of half-chances which they couldn’t convert. Boateng’s thunderous drive slid inches wide of the post.
Cluj took a firm grip on the match just before half-time when an incisive through ball enabled Paun to get to the bye-line, and his low cross gave Croatian Debeljuh a simple finish. Cluj delivered the final blow 10 minutes after the break when Rondon snuck in at the back post to steer home a free-kick, and Debeljuh should have made it 4-0 but shot too close to Vartanen, who made a good block. Substitute Udo scored the consolation goal for KuPS in added on time, turning on the edge of the area to shoot home off the underside of the cross bar.
Friday 2nd October
HIFK 1-1 FC Honka ( att : 1,517 )
Honka earned their tenth draw of the season to stay in 4th place but they left it under the 93rd minute to grab the equaliser.
The first chance of the match fell to Honka striker Kandji, who rounded HIFK keeper Origi but saw his shot from a tight angle cleared off the line. HIFK took the lead seven minutes before half-time, Tukiainen’s shot leaving the Honka keeper motionless. Honka peppered the HIFK goal in the second half with Kandji, Savage and Borjas Martin all being denied by fine saves from Origi. However, with time almost up Borjas Martin headed home a corner from inches out to salvaged a point. HIFK are now 4 matches without a win.
FC Lahti 3-1 IFK Mariehamn ( att : 1,211 )
An important win for Lahti which put them back on the edge of a Champions Series place, whilst Mariehamn slipped further out of contention after a third consecutive loss. Mariehamn had the slight edge in the first half, and led after Aussie midfielder Peter Makrillos shot home after the Lahti defensive failed to clear properly. IFK had chances to extend the lead early in the second half, but a defensive error allowed Lahti back into the match. After a Lahti attack came to nothing, Niilo Maenpaa ran out of defence but his square pass was intercepted and played quickly to Dimitry Imbongo, whose deft flick with his left footed made it 1-1. Until then Lahti had looked pretty toothless but they went on to the front foot, and 10 minutes later Imbongo was on hand to slide in at the far post to finish off a low cross from the left for his second goal of the game.
Mariehamn won a corner in injury time and keeper Forsman decided to join the attack. Unfortunately for him, the cross was cleared and Lahti top scorer Assehnoun was left to run the length of the field unopposed to score into the unguarded net.
TPS P-P SJK Seinajoki
This match was postponed following a positive sample for Covid-19. The TPS squad are now having to self-isolate for 14 days and a new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.
Saturday 3rd October
Finnish Cup Final ( in Turku )
Inter Turku 0-2 HJK Helsinki ( att : 2,500 )
Despite being the away team, HJK got off to a great start in the Cup Final when with less than three minutes played the Inter defence went to napping at a corner and allowed HJK dangerman Roope Riski space in front of the near post to turn and volley an in-swinging corner into the roof of the net. This set-back appeared to take the wind out of Inter’s sails aas Riku Riski,ex Dundee United man and brother of Roope, missed two good chances to extend the lead for HJK.
Just before half-time Inter appealed strongly for a penalty after veteran striker Timo Furuholm crashed to the ground after a 50/50 challenge with HJK keeper Reguero, Whilst the Police searched for the sniper in the stands, the referee, perhaps aware of Furuholm previous form in playing dead, gave a goal-kick. Certainly there was little sympathy from the HJK defenders !
Riku made amends for his earlier misses by starting a move with a good piece of skill on the right-hand touch line and when the ball reached Tanaka, Inter keeper Moisander could only weakly parry his shot straight to Roope Riski who had an easy finish from a couple of yards for the decisive goal after 54 minutes, and his second of the match.
Soon after, Riku Riski had another chance to increase the lead but his shot was blocked by a diving defender. Although Riku appealed for handball, the TV replays suggested the referee was right to decide the ball had come of the defender’s back.
Inter had a lot of possession in the final 30 minutes but were unable to fashion any clear-cut chance, the best being two crosses that frustratingly Furuholm just couldn’t reach. In the end HJK were comfortable winners, and after a rare season without European football they have at least achieved their minimum objective for this season, although they hope ultimately they will be playing in the Champions League rather than the Europa Conference !
KuPS 1-1 FC Ilves Tampere ( att : 1,528 )
After the disappointment of their exit from the Europa League, KuPS had another set-back by dropping points against an improving Lahti side. With this result they moved level with HJK at the top of the table but still have one game in hand. Ilves are now unbeaten in four matches and sit in 5th place just one point being Honka for the final European place.
In a frantic opening, teenage sensation Naatan Skytta twice came close in the first four minutes to opening the scoring for Ilves after which Usman Sale forced Ilves keeper Hilander to make two saves and saw a dangerous cross to the unmarked Rangel cut-out by a desperate slide from the defender. Both sides created good chances but it stayed goal-less at half-time.
It took Ilves less than a minute to open the scoring in the second half, when Skytta’s low skidding shot from just over 20 yards crept past Virtanen into the corner of the goal. Perhaps the keeper could have done better……..
KuPS pressed for the winner but several efforts went just wide, but they were nearly caught out with 7 minutes left on the clock when Virtanen was forced to make an alert diving save at his near post to keep out Skytta’s glancing header. However, the Ilves goal was soon under siege again and Rangel’s header crashed against the bar, and Hilander made an instinctive reflex save to keep out Rangel’s header from point blank range and ensure Ilves went home with a point.
Next Fixture
Despite the break for the Nations League Internationals, with neither club having any players selected for the national squad, KuPS play their remaining catch-up fixture at home to HIFK on October 8th at 18.30 local/16.30 UK time. Round 19 fixtures are to be played on the weekend of October 15th although the exact timings are still to be published. The tie of the round looks to be Inter Turku vs KuPS ( third vs second ), whilst HJK visit SJK Seinajoki. At the bottom, Haka host TPS.
No comments:
Post a Comment