July 9, 2024
The first match to kick-off in the 2024/25 season of European competitions saw a meeting between the champions of Lithuania and Finland, both of whom had featured before in these diaries. Unlike many sides who are still in their pre-seasons when they play their first match of their European campaign, both Lithuania and Finland have summer leagues, so both sides were mid-way through their 2024 season and so should have been “match-fit”.
FK Panevezys
Located 135km north of the capital Vilnius, Panevezys went through their entire 36 game 2023 A-Lyga league season with just one defeat, a 1-2 reverse at Zalgiris in round 15 at the end of May, and won the title by 12 points. Unlike the season before where they led the table after 12 games but faded to finish third, this time they were able to maintain their form throughout the year, going unbeaten at home with just 5 draws from 18 games.
Ex-Sputnik Nicaraguan striker Ariagner Smith ( 15 caps ) was their top scorer for the second year running with 14 goals whilst ex-Ajax and Real Sociedad defender Jeffrey Sarpong scored 6 times and topped the league table for assists with 14. Defender Pijus Sirvys ( 16 caps ) found the net 7 times. Keeper Vytautas Cerniauskas ( 6 caps ) was ever present until missing the final game of the season, Colombian midfielder Sebastian Rincon, son of Freddy Rincon, contributed 6 goals, the same number as ex-Gillingham, Hampton and Richmond, and Kingstonian Congolese striker Noel Mbo.
In addition to Sirvys and Cerniauskas, defenders Linas Klimavicius ( 43 caps ) and Markas Beneta ( 23 caps ) and midfielder Matijus Remeikis ( 3 caps ) were Lithuanian Internationals whilst veteran centre-back Kaspars Dubra had won 62 caps for Latvia.
Panevezys qualified for the Europa Conference in the previous three years, but won only one match, in Moldova against Milsami Orhei last year ( 1-0 ) which was enough to progress to a tie with Hapoel Be’er Sheva, which was lost 1-2 on aggregate after failing to overturn a 0-1 defeat in the first leg in Israel.
FK Panevezys 2024 Season
The defence of their first title so far had been dreadful, and they went into today’s game in joint bottom position in the 2024 A-Lyga with a 5-6-10 record, being ahead of FK Suduva only on goal difference.
They begin the season with just one win in their opening 10 matches but had improved a little with three wins in their 7 most recent games, although the last two outings had both been lost 0-1 at home, to Hegelmann and Banga.
A number of the title winning squad left the club during the winter. Remeikis was sold to Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv for a reported €200K, Sirvys joined Slovenian side NK Maribor and Rincon moved to Iraqi side Naft Al-Wasset. Other departures included Senegalese centre-back Seydina Keita to Al-Tadamon in Kuwait and Ukrainian midfielder Artem Shchedry to fellow A-Lyga side Hegelmann.
Panevezys looked to have made some decent signings to maintain the strength of their squad though, with Argentinian play-maker Nicolas Gorobsov joining from Zalgiris, former German Under 21 centre-back Malcolm Cacutulua signed from Magdeburg, Slovak left-back Robert Mazan ( 11 caps ) signed from Bulgarian side Hebar, and German striker Frederico Palacios Martinez arrived from Fortuna Koln.
Other signings included ex-Milsami-Orhei Moldovian keeper Emil Timbur ( 1 cap ), ex-Sandefjord and Wolfsburger AC Senegalese winger Cheikhou Dieng and Norwegian striker Sivert Gussias, who was with Faroese side KI last year and had also played for Sandefjord.
However, Panevezys have been hampered by long-term injuries to Smith, Sarpong and Cerniauskas, although Cerniauskas had recovered to be on the bench tonight. Mbo and Gorobsov were the joint top scorers with just three goals each.
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi ( HJK ) are known as Klubi ( The Club ) and play at the 10,770 capacity Bolt Arena. This is adjacent to the National Olympic Stadium, and has an artificial grass surface. The stadium is shared with HIFK, and is named after a local construction company rather than the record-breaking Jamaican sprinter.
HJK are perennial participants in European competition and last season reached the group stages of the Europa Conference where they twice drew with Aberdeen but lost twice to Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK. They reached the Group stages of the Europa League in 2014/15 where they recorded 2-1 home victories over both Torino and FC Copenhagen. In 2021/22 they reached the group stages of the Europa Conference League and made the Europa League group stages in 2022/23
HJK were covered by these diaries last July when they surprising slumped to a 0-1 home defeat to struggling Lahti.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/07/hjk-helsinki-0-1-fc-lahti-att-4056-2023.html
That loss left HJK three points behind KuPS and having played one game more. However, HJK recovered to lead the table by one point at the end of the regular season and they remained on top at the end of the Championship play-off Rounds on goal difference despite a final day loss to KuPS. This was their 33rd title, their fourth in succession and their sixth in seven years.
Ex-Brighton and Hove Albion U21 and AIK Stockholm Serbian striker Bojan Radulovic was the top scorer with 18 goals, which earned him a move to Huddersfield Town in January with the fee rumoured to be £1.2M, but he was unable to save the Terriers from relegation to England’s League One.
Seven of the side that started the game against Lahti were Finnish internationals. However, right-back Miro Tenho ( 4 caps ) has moved to Swedish side Djurgarden, defensive midfielder Matti Peltola ( 9 caps ) is now with US side DC United, midfielder Pyry Soiri ( 45 caps ) is now with Greek side Kallithea after leaving for a short spell at Romanian side Universitatea Craiova, defender Jukka Raitala is now with newly promoted Gnistan and striker Roope Riski ( 5 caps ) now plays for Ilves Tampere.
Midfielder Lucas Lingman ( 11 caps ), and forwards Anthony Olusanya ( 1 cap ) and Santeri Hostikka ( 7 caps ) are still with HJK.
HJK Helsinki 2024 Season
The 2024 Veikkausliiga looks even more competitive than ever, and HJK went into today’s match standing level on points with KuPS but having played a game more. The top 6 were seperated by only four points.
HJK had an 8-4-4 record, with the defeats coming at KuPS ( 1-3 ), at home to VPS ( 1-2 ), at Oulu ( 0-1 ), and 0-3 at Ilves in their most recent game. Prior to that though HJK had won four league games in a row.
HJK exited the Finnish FA Cup at the quarter final stage, losing on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Ekenas.
HJK made a couple of interesting signings prior to the start of the season such as Tottenham Under 21 defender Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and forward Luke Plange joining on loan from Crystal Palace. Defender Diogo Tomas ( 4 caps ) joined from Norweigan side Odds and Ghanian midfielder Nunoo Sarpei signed from Ingolstadt.
Last week centre-back Daniel O’Shaunessy ( 22 caps ) rejoined the club from Karlsruhe, and ex-Motherwell, Leeds, Oldham and Haka Scottish striker Lee Erwin signed from Ahed in the Lebanon. Erwin played in the final of the AFC Cup earlier in the year where Ahed lost 0-1 to Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.
Thirty-nine year-old ex-Brighton and Hove Albion and Bristol City keeper Niki Maenpaa ( 27 caps ) had been the HJK back-up keeper but was selected to start today. Other Finnish internationals in the squad today were centre-back Joona Toivio ( 78 caps ), midfielder Noah Pallas ( 3 caps, and a breed of wild cat named after him ! ) whilst winger Hassane Bande had 27 caps for Burkina Faso, and Kevor Palumets, on loan from Zulte-Waregem and previously with Paide Linnameeskond had 5 Estonian caps.
Other foreigners in their squad were Greek midfielder Georgios Kannellopoulos and Japanese winger Atomu Tanaka, who had played for Cerezo Osaka.
Plange was the top scorer in the league with 6 goals, closely followed by Topi Keskinen with 5, then Lingman on 3 goals.
Matchday Information
After having to play their previous home European ties at FK Suduva’s ground in Marijampole, Panevezys were able to play the match at their home stadium, the 6,000 capacity Aukštaitija Stadium, which has a grass pitch.
All tickets for the match were priced at €9, and Panevezys’ average home attendance this season had been 385.
The temperature at the 18.30 local time kick-off ( 16.30 UK ) was cloudy and 24 degrees.
Panevezys were in a kit of all blue, whilst HJK were in a change kit of all yellow rather than their usual blue and white stripes.
The referee and his assistants were from Switzerland.
The match was streamed live on Bet365, who made HJK favourites at the unusual odds of 19/50 with Panezezys at 11/2 and the draw was offered at 10/3. Finland were currently 34th in the UEFA club side co-efficients, ahead of Lithuania who were 43rd.
Between 30 to 40 HJK fans had travelled to Lithuania and were housed in a corner behind one of the goals.
Match Report
Panevezys almost created a chance in the first minute when De Vega threaded a ball through the HJK back three for Gussias to run onto but keeper Maenpaa was quickly off his line to dive on the ball.
HJK were enjoying the majority of the early possession but Bande’s optimistic 20 yard effort sailed well wide, and then after six minutes Hostikka and Keskinen combined on the right but the move came to nothing after some good defending. Two minutes later Pallas was in space on the left but his low cross was cleared by Dubra and the ball hit the referee for a drop ball to Panevezys.
With 12 minutes played a raking cross-field ball from left to right by Klimavicius enabled Veliulis to get past Pallas but Gussias on the stretch was just unable to reach his low ball across the 6 yard box. HJK went immediately down the other end but Keskinen was unable to control a long ball over the top and the ball was put out for a corner by Mazan.
The opening goal of the game arrived in the 17th minute. Palacios-Martinez fizzed a low bouncing ball from the left, and with Ramos ball watching, Ernestas Veliulis nipped ahead of him, and the Lithuanian international ( 4 caps ) sent a left footed flick across goal from 8 yards and into the opposite far corner. An excellent finish made it 1-0 after 17 minutes.
HJK struggled for an immediate response but in the 24th minute Keskinen’s cross was put out for a corner by Dubra. Tomas headed the corner wide from 8 yards, but the referee awarded a free-kick for a push by Bande on Klimavicius.
Panevezys were still looking a threat on the break, and after good hold-up play by Dieng, a left wing cross from Mazan evaded everyone. Then in the 31st minute Dieng’s 25 yard drive was tipped over the bar by Maenpaa. Dubra met Gorobsov’s corner with a downward header but it was straight at the keeper.
HJK had a half chance a minute later. A Panevezys defender was trying to escort the ball out of play for a goal-kick but Hostikka kept the ball in play, Bande then laid the ball back to Keskinen but his hurried shot from 10 yards under pressure was sliced wide.
The home side were still looking the more dangerous in attack, and after Veliulis’s cross was headed away, Gorobsov picked up the loose ball and sent a left-footed 20 yard effort arrowing into the bottom corner, but Maenpaa produced a fine save diving to his left to push the ball away.
Three minutes from half-time Plange received a pass on the edge of the Panevezys area and turned, but his shot was narrowly deflected wide for a corner. It was the first contribution from the Crystal Palace man. A scramble ensued from the corner but eventually Hostikka had a shot saved by keeper Timbur and the back was hacked away to safety.
With half-time approaching Bande’s cross from the left was well caught by Timbur and the half ended shortly after. Although HJK had seen 54% of the possession, the 1-0 lead at the break for Panevezys was probably a fair scoreline.
The home side again started the second half brightly and after a moving involving Mazan and De Vega, Palacios-Martinez shot a few feet over the bar. Shortly after, Plange turned in space 25 yards out but blazed wildly about 10 yards over the bar.
In the 52st minute, Gussias made a strong from half-way and fed Dieng but the Senegalese winger was forced out wide and his cross-cum-shot was caught by Maenpaa.
The Swiss referee then discovered a yellow card in his pocket and produced it three times in under three minutes. First Kanellopoulos showed a poor first touch and when Gorobsov poked the ball away from him, the Argentinian was brought down. Bande was then about to run onto Lingman’s through ball only to be cynically stopped by Rasimavicius. Dieng then entered the referee’s note-book for a late tackle.
In between all this, HJK’s Boamah’s throw-in was so bad a rare foul throw had to be given !
Panevezys still looked the side more likely to score the second goal of the game but Dieng’s cross after being put in space on the left was poor and gathered by Maenpaa, then De Vega cross from the left towards Dieng was intercepted by an outstretched leg of an HJK defender.
HJK’s hoped suffered a huge blow when Panevezys substitute Cadjenovic found De Vega inside the HJK area and when the Brazilian turned to head towards the by-line, Kanellopoulos’s clumsy challenge made contact with the Brazilian’s knee, and he needed no invitation to crash to the floor. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Gorobsov stepped up to send the ball high into the middle of the goal as Maenpaa dived to his left. 2-0 after 65 minutes.
With HJK still smarting, a flowing move saw Veliulis put Mazan clear on the left and from his low ball Mbo darted ahead of the static Toivio to score from 6 yards. A fine finish from the ex-Kingstonian marksman against the Finns ! It was now 3-0 after 67 minutes.
In desperation HJK made four substitutions in an effort to get back into the game and they were given a lifeline in the 71st minute when Dieng made a brain-dead challenge on Kouassivi-Benissan in the HJK half, and saw a second yellow card for the needless foul. Dieng was already walking off before the card was brandished.
However, the next half-chance was for Panevezys when Mbo latched onto a long ball out of defence but his push past the onrushing Maenpaa out of his area forced him too wide, and no team-mate was up in support to get on the end of his cross from the by-line.
HJK response was for Lingman to shot left-footed from 20 yard but his effort was straight at Timbur who made a routine catch. With a player advantage HJK were now dominating but Kouassivi-Benissan’s back-post header from Lyon-Foster’s cross went narrowly over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.
With 12 minutes remaining Keskinen burst into the home penalty area but Dubra took a knock in making the block to concede a corner. When play resumed, Erwin’s flicked header at the near post was punched away by Timbur.
Substitute Lyons-Foster was making an impression as a left wing-back and with ten minutes remaining he cut inside and tried his luck from the angle of the penalty area, only for Timbur to make an unconvincing save at his near post at the expense of a corner.
Keskinen then had a go from a similar position only to see Timbur make a dog’s-dinner save, unnecessarily acrobatic to bat away a shot that probably was an easy catch.
With the home side content to sit back and protect their three goal lead it was all HJK, but Keskinen’s low cross was bravely pushed away from the feet of Erwin by the keeper. However, that was to be last piece of goalmouth action and Panezeyvs comfortably saw out the final minutes to record a memorable victory. They will presumably hope they can carry this form into the second leg and the rest of their season.
HJK were hugely disappointing but will expect to play much better at home, and the tie isn’t over.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_3OmuMYtk
FK Panevezys : Timbur – Rasimavicius ( Luksys ), Dubra, Klimavicius, Mazan – Veliulis ( Beneta ), Palacios-Martinez ( Cadjenovic ), Gorobsov, De Vega, Dieng – Gussias ( Mbo )
HJK Helsinki : Maenpaa – Boamah ( Kouassivi-Benissan ), Toivio, Tomas – Keskinen, Kanellopoulos, Lingman ( Moller ), Pallas ( Lyons-Foster ) – Hostikka, Plange ( Erwin ), Bande ( Palumets )
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