VPS took the lead after a strange scramble from an indirect free kick, but Inter equalized. AC Oulu beat KTP in the lower final series.
The Vaasa Palloseura has been one of the biggest topics of discussion in the Veikkausliiga football season. Back in June, the team was a series jumbo. However, from the end of June, a huge winning streak began.
A week ago on Friday, VPS beat FC Honga. That win was the club’s 12th in a row in the Veikkausliiga. At the same time, VPS broke the Veikkausliiga’s all-time winning record. HJK won 12 matches in a row in the 2002 season.
HIFK has the longest winning streak in Finland’s main league, which won 15 matches in a row in 1933–34 in the then SM series.
However, VPS did not get a Veikkausliiga winning streak record, as today it was tied 1-1 in its home match against FC Inter.
After an hour of play, VPS got a really rare free kick. Inter goalkeeper Eetu Huuhtas had already been warned about playing time. Finally, the referee Oskari Hämäläinen had enough when Huuhtanen, 20, held the ball in his hands for so long. Hämäläinen whistled an indirect free kick for VPS.
According to the football rulebook, an indirect free kick is awarded if the goalkeeper in his own penalty area holds the ball in his hands for longer than six seconds before releasing it. In practice, however, this is a rule that is almost never addressed.
From a rare quality free kick, VPS also delivered the ball into the net. Hot Nigerian striker Peter Michael recorded his 14th goal of the season. He is second in the goalscoring list, HJK’s with Bojan Radulovic has 17 goals. Michael has now hit in nine matches in a row and scored a total of 11 hits in them.
However, Inter scored an equalizer in the 81st minute when Petteri Forsell skillfully released Matias Tamminen drive through. The hit was the second of the season for 21-year-old Tammin in the Veikkausliiga.
VPS will face HJK and SJK in the upper final series of the Veikkausliiga. VPS is firmly in third place.
AC Oulu secured its position, KTP plows
In the lower continuation series, one match was also played on Friday. AC Oulu beat KTP when Danny Barrow and Niklas Jokelainen finished in the 3rd and 14th minutes.
In practice, Oulu has now secured the victory in the lower final series, i.e. seventh place. It means that Oulu will definitely be able to participate in the Euro final tournament played at the end of the season. Those ranked 3-7 in the Veikkausliga will play in the tournament from the last place to the next season’s European games, the Conference League qualification.
KTP’s position became difficult. The people of Kotka are on their way to being eliminated from their place in the series.
KTP is on a losing streak of six matches. It has lost all its matches since Juha Malinen in August your ear Jussi Leppälahten as head coach.
The Veikkausliiga continues on Sunday with the matches Haka–Lahti and KuPS–SJK. HJK’s championship is secured if KuPS loses to SJK.