HJK started the first qualifying round of the Champions League with a victory in Töölö. HJK captain Miro Tenho admitted that attacking was again difficult for the people from Helsinki.
Simo Arkko,
Jussi Vainikka
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi defeated Larne from Northern Ireland in the opening part of the first qualifying round of the Champions League. HJK defeated the Northern Irish team at the Töölö football stadium with goals 1–0.
The people from Helsinki got a lightning start to the match thanks to their first attack. Perparim Hetemaj played the ball into the box and Larne’s topper Cian Bolger broke Top in the middle.
– When the ball comes behind the line, then I usually have an advantage. Now I got to the ball and it was a bit of a silly mistake from him. The hundred-kilogram guy fell on his hip, so I probably couldn’t run for twenty minutes, Keskinen told Urheilu.
Bojan Radulovic eventually scored a penalty twice. This was due to the Serbian’s haste, as he shot his first attempt even before the referee gave the go-ahead.
Radulovic hit the ball into the net both times. He finished his accepted goal into the right corner.
– We got a great start, a goal and otherwise a lot of pressure on their goal. Maybe our game ended after the goal. Should have scored more goals today, but the win is the most important, HJK captain Miro Tenho characterized.
Half remained unchanged
HJK controlled the events after the goal, but it could not get into good goal positions. The inefficiency that plagued the early season was actually visible throughout the match, also in the Euro qualifiers.
Head coach of HJK Toni Koskela regretted that the team could not change sides enough times in the match.
– We didn’t even get to the pits often enough due to the fact that we don’t change sides often enough. We are on the same side and we lack runs in the depth. We didn’t get deep enough enough times, commented Koskela.
Frustrated atmosphere
In the second half, Larne got into the game and had a few opportunities for HJK’s goal. It was the closest to finishing Leroy Millarwho headed the ball past the back post. Andy Ryan later pulled over the goal.
A few minutes later, the club was able to break through Larne’s defense when Kevin Koussivi-Benissan dash behind the line. The Larne Guard Rohan Ferguson however, repelled the situation with his foot.
– We got a win and a clean sheet. You have to be satisfied with that, but of course there is room for improvement. The game showed the same thing we’ve had, that is, attacking was a bit difficult again. A win and 1–0, you can’t complain, Tenho stated.
Keskinen, 20, who moved from Mikkelin Palloilijos to HJK for this season, was not in a very happy mood after the match ended.
– Maybe a little frustrated (feeling). We started quite well and I thought we would start scoring more goals. But the game was pretty choppy. I think the second half was pretty bad. A win is a win, Keskinen characterized.
“Minimum result in pocket”
HJK goes into the second leg with a kinky situation. The fight will be played on Wednesday next week in Belfast.
– Of course, the minimum result is in the pocket. In my opinion, the opponent looked like a full-blooded professional team with good players and clear strengths. I didn’t expect anything else. It will certainly be a tough game away from home. They have gotten good results many times, Koskela summed up.
The match was watched by HJK’s season record audience, because according to the club, the Töölö stadium was sold out. Many juniors from the Helsinki Cup, which was being played at the same time, were invited to the place.