The top team in the men’s football league changed on Saturday, when KuPS defeated Haka 3–0 at home and became the top of the league. At the same time, in Helsinki, HJK and SJK ended in a goalless draw.
KuPS now has 22 points, SJK 21 and HJK 20.
Kuopio’s goal scorers excelled Jasse Tuominen, Urho Nissilä and Gabriel Bispo. Nissilä was responsible for the most beautiful hit of the Kuopio team, who showed off his kicking technique and took the Kuopio team to a 2–0 lead after the 23rd minute of the game.
In the battle for the top between HJK and SJK, no goals were seen, to the chagrin of more than 5,600 spectators. For the club, the draw was the third in a row in the men’s main series.
The team from Helsinki has only managed to score once in these three matches: Bojan Radulovic brought HJK level in Tampere in extra time against Ilves a couple of weeks ago.
On Tuesday, the club was eliminated from the Finnish Cup, when Honka won at the end of the penalty shootout.
– There are moments when we have scoring opportunities that should be scored. They always change the game like that. It’s really hard. As a rule, we play against a low block, it is the most difficult thing in futsal to create a lot of high-quality goal chances against such. That’s when efficiency is highlighted, HJK pilot Toni Koskela comment.
– Of course we can defend better and keep the opponent out of our box better. When they get into the box a couple of times, you have to defend them better.
HJK, which has won the last three championships, started the season as the biggest champion favorite. The actions of the last few weeks have not convinced at least the Club’s supporters, some of whom again demanded the head coach out after the match.
Koskela’s attitude was “Koskela out!” -screams calmly.
– Life is like that. When we are at HJK, expectations are high. It doesn’t really affect this, we are going towards tomorrow and training and we will work hard so that the results turn around, so everyone is satisfied.
According to Koskela, the team plans to especially hone its offensive game in the next few weeks.
– Small nuances in the last third. Even though today we played against a low, passive 5–3–2 formation, we shouldn’t lift high balls into the box when there are big toppers in front of us, but it would have been better to pass a few times in front of the box and shoot from the sixteen line. The next game may be a bit different, but the thoughts and timings of the last third need to be polished so that we can get quality in the actions.
Next, HJK will face FC Lahti, which is tenth in the series, on Wednesday.
Inter overthrew Honga, Ashley Coffey at the top of the scoring market
Before the start of the season, Honkaa was called as HJK’s biggest challenger in the championship race, but the Espoo team’s early season has been challenging.
Before the goal stick Agon Sadiku the group that lost to the Norwegian Rosenborg has scored only eight goals in 11 matches. In the last five league games, Honka has gone four times without goals.
On Saturday, Honka lost to Inter 0–2. Inter’s hits hit Matias Ojala in the 22nd minute and Tommi Jyry in the 53rd minute. Both goals were being arranged Petteri Forsell.
Honga’s best goal came in the extra time of the opening period, but Roope Huuhtanen figured it out first Clesion for the top spot, and from the return ball to the people of Espoo Roman Eremenko raced to the top bar.
Goalkeeper Huuhtanen’s high school graduation party was missed on Saturday, when the 20-year-old young man shone in Turku’s goal.
– The parents applied for the matriculation law during the day, and the party will be held sometime later, Huuhtanen said.
In Oulu, AC Oulu defeated IFK Mariehami 3–2. English confirmation Ashley Coffey topped the scoring charts when he scored twice on Saturday to take his tally to seven.
– I used to be just a goal scorer, but nowadays I want to be a better player overall. I feel that I played a big part in all three goals, Coffey, 29, commented to STT.
In addition to Coffey, Oulu’s Otso Liimatta also hit. IFK Mariehamn organized another great finale, when Mikko Sumusalo hit in the 81st minute and Robin Sid a few minutes later, but the equalizer missed.
KTP took its third win of the season when it beat series jumbo VPS 1–0. Willis Furtado hit the only one for the Kotka team, his fourth hit of the season.
The runner-up is currently sixth in the standings.
– The game could have gone either way, luckily we scored one goal. We have now defended the last two games really well, emphasized the KTP goalkeeper who had to save three shots in front of a scoreless gamei Rasmus Leislahti for STT.
FC Lahti, on the other hand, rose to a 2–2 draw against Ilves in the second half by Matheus Alves with a penalty kick and Juho Pirttijokien with a header from a corner kick.
Only 16-year-old Osku Maukonen made his debut in Lahte’s goal, for whom the weekend was memorable. He finished his elementary school on the same day and made his league debut.
At the same time, Maukos, who is part of the Finnish under-16 national team, became the youngest goalkeeper in FC Lahti’s club history to play in the starting line-up at the age of 16 years, 3 months and 19 days.
– Yesterday there was an announcement in training that I will play today. My head went quite empty, it came as quite a shock, but I got a really good night’s sleep, Maukonen told STT.
Ilves’ hits were scored by Tatu Miettunen and Adam Larsson. The people of Tampere already lost their lead in the third consecutive home match.
– If there was a simple solution to why this happens, it would be nice to hear it. Yes, it sucks, Tampere head coach Toni Kallio said.
Toni Koskela was interviewed by Mikko Lehessaari.
Veikkausliiga Saturday’s results
FC Inter – FC Honka 2–0 (1–0)
KuPS – FC Haka 3–0 (2–0)
KTP–VPS 1–0 (0–0)
HJK–SJK 0–0
AC Oulu – IFK Mariehamn 3–2 (2–0)
Ilves – FC Lahti 2–2 (2–0)