HJK’s difficult start to the season was continued when it was tied 0-0 with league champion EIF.
4.5. 19:15•Updated 4.5. 21:21
HJK had to settle for a goalless draw on their home field with the newly promoted EIF in the football Veikkausliiga in front of 5,012 spectators. HJK couldn’t break EIF’s defense and ended up in a draw for the third time since the beginning of the season. In addition, HJK has one loss and only two wins. The league ranking is third, even though HJK has played more matches than others.
– You can’t be satisfied with this. We had many chances, but didn’t put the ball in the goal, HJK’s Anthony Olusanya said.
The Home crowd also showed dissatisfaction with the team.
– They can shout what they want. We do our best on the field. The atmosphere within the team is good.
EIF defended well and the Brazilian goalkeeper made a great save in the last block Almeida Da Silva.
– If we had scored one goal, then it would have been a great performance. It was a good performance though, the first clean sheet in the Veikkausliiga here against HJK, EIF’s defender Kalle Katz said.
Ilves won dramatically – two penalty kicks in three minutes decided
Two penalty kicks in just over two minutes saved Tampere Ilves from a new humiliation hanging over them at the Tammela stadium, which was opened for this season.
AC Oulu, who started the season without a win, pulled off a huge surprise when Justin Rennicks took the visitors to a 2–1 lead after just over an hour of play.
Soon after, the Oulu team had to break the hosts’ left defender Jorginho twice in a short time in the penalty area, and wasted several top positions Santeri Haarala sunk both of the rankarkas in. Ilves took their first home win of the season in the new Tammela with a score of 3–2.
– Yes, I probably should have done four today. But there’s no point in stressing about it too much. I am quite satisfied with two, Haarala said.
Arriving in Ilves for this season Roope Risk scored the home team’s 1-0 goal in the 9th minute, but had to come on as a substitute a few minutes later, holding the thigh area.
– I have to investigate, I can’t say more about it now, head coach of Ilves Joonas Rantanen said.
Head coach of AC Oulu Rauno Ojanen in my opinion, there were surprisingly few goals in the five-goal carnival considering the circumstances.
– It’s shocking for the coach how many places were given, Ojanen said.
AC Oulu, who opened the season with four away matches and one home match played in Vaasa, will be on their home turf for the first time next weekend.
SJK and KuPS to a draw
SJK was close to climbing to the top of the Men’s League on Saturday against KuPS. SJK was in the lead for a long time with KuPS’s own goal, but Otto Ruopin the 1–1 draw in the second half dashed Seinjoki’s dreams of victory. SJK’s Ostrobothnian enemy VPS is still at the top of the league with a difference of one point.