The National Football League ended dramatically on Friday evening, when JyPK secured its place in the league and Honka and Ilves were relegated to the First Division. The runner-up from Jyväskylä kept their place in the league, even though no less than three teams fell to a lower league level.
JyPK, who moved up to the main league for this season, beat league jumbo PKKU 2–0 in the final round and secured their place at the main league level for next season as well.
A dynasty is being built for HJK
The women’s championship was won by HJK, who already secured the championship at the end of September.
On Friday, the silver medals were secured by KuPS, who beat HPS, who finished in bronze place, in an away game 2–0. With the win, the club from Kuopio ensured access to the Eurocourts next season.
HJK’s championship was not a surprise, as the team was invested heavily. In the background of the women’s team, a private limited company was established more than a year ago.
HJK, which returned to the gold standard after a five-year break, was overwhelming, as the team lost only two matches during the season. HJK’s second team HJK Akatemia won the First Division and the B-girls of the Helsinki team won the championship.
– At HJK, such measures have been taken that a dynasty is being built. The resources are fine, Urheilu’s expert Essi Sainio saw
Honka, aiming for the championship, was eliminated
JyPK’s victory on Friday meant that Honga and Ilves’ streak will continue next season below the league level in the National No. 1. The relegation of Serjajumbo PKKU was already confirmed before the final round, but the relegation of Ilves and Honga was a surprise.
Because the National League will change to an eight-team league next season, three teams were relegated from the league. VIFK from Vaasa takes first place.
In the final round, Ilves lost to PK-35 Helsinki 2–3 at home and was last to last in the series. The fate of the traditional main league club FC Honga was also relegation, although it won its match against PK-35 Vantaa 2–0. Honga’s goal for the season was to win the championship.
If Ilves had won Friday’s match against PK-35 Helsinki, the team from Tampere would have continued in the main league next season as well. The fall of the lynx leaves a big gap in the activities of the Pirkanmaa area. Now there is no league team in the area for juniors to aim for. Ilves has done poorly year after year, even though it shouldn’t be about resources.
– It was brutal that three teams were relegated, but this was known. The big surprises were that Ilves and Honka are below the line. Urheilu’s expert, the teams did not get the kind of final effort that was expected of them Hanna Ruohomaa pondered.
PK-35 kept its place, the legendary pilot ends
PK-35 Vantaa and PK-35 Helsinki were also under threat during the season, but the teams avoided relegation with their hard work.
– PK-35 Vantaa and PK-35 were able to improve their grip throughout the season and take the final scrimmage, nothing taken away from them. The curve was rising for them, while the curve for Ilves and Honga was falling throughout the season, Ruohomaa stated.
Served as head coach of PK-35 Vantaa for 11 years Jari Väisänen resigned at the end of the season. The legendary coach did a really great job at the helm of PK-35 Vantaa.
– Väisänen took the team from number one back to the main league in 2019 and he coached the team to a total of five Finnish championships, Ruohomaa and Sainio were glowing.
The circumstances spoke
The big talking point of the season that ended was the conditions that Åland United’s experienced defender Anni Miettunen brought up in the summer. On Friday, Miettunen was happy that the conditions have now been talked about, but he has been missing actions.
– It’s good that there was a discussion about this in the summer, but we also hope for action. I haven’t seen anything concrete yet. I wish for better conditions. I hope that every team looks in the mirror and thinks about what it could do for women’s football, Miettunen underlined to Urheilu after the last game of the season.
Åland United was also expected to be successful this season, but the final result was fourth place. Suffering from a lack of resources, the team had to train in the summer without a coach.
– Fourth place was the maximum performance for us. As you know, we have had difficulties with the coach and resource situation. This was certainly more than what could be expected from us, Miettunen saw.
Åland United is not the only team that suffered from a lack of resources during the season, as PK-35 Helsinki’s women’s team and the men’s team playing in the First League received from the Finnish Football Association’s license committee two point deductions for next season. The club did not comply with the obligations and regulations regarding the A criteria of the licensing regulations when it did not add covered seating to the stand.
Big gaps between clubs
The National League’s new development manager Minna Kauppinen during the season we saw a lot of good, but also a lot of bad.
– We have wonderful clubs and players who have done an amazing job on the field. However, the gap between the clubs is too big. We have top clubs where the players can live on football and enjoy everyday life and then we have the other end that we have to develop. The gap must be reduced, Kauppinen commented on ‘s Friday game broadcast.
– The situation discussion held in the summer has been important. I thank the players who raised these issues. We are getting stricter license conditions for, among other things, the field platform.
Five HJK players on the star field
Urheilu’s experts Essi Sainio and Hanna Ruohomaa selected no fewer than five HJK players for the star field of the season.
The goal exchange of the season was won by the North Macedonian striker of the silver team KuPS Gentjana Rochiwho scored 15 goals in 22 matches.
– Rochi can be found at the top of the goal exchange year after year. He would be a reinforcement for any team, Ruohomaa beamed.
– He is not just there in front of the goal poking the ball in, because he scores goals with individual performances from far and near. He is an excellent player, Sainio beamed.
will follow the final round of the Veikkausliiga on Saturday 19.10. The match between KuPS and HJK can be seen live on TV2, Areena and the app from 17:40.