KuPS won the championship silver and a European place – these teams are relegated from the National League | Sports in a nutshell

HJK, KuPS and HPS were the top three in the National League season. Even though KuPS’ championship streak was broken, thanks to UEFA’s reform, it will be seen on the Euro courts next fall as well.

The season of the National Football League ended on Friday evening with the celebration of the Helsinki Football Club.

Having already secured the championship at the end of September, HJK beat Åland United at home in the final round in spectacular style 3–0. They succeeded in scoring Elli-Noora Kainulainen, Lotta Kalske and Milja Kiviranta.

The fate of the silver medals was open before the final round, and it was decided by the Palloseura of Helsinki and the Palloseura of Kuopio. KuPS had a two-point lead, so even a draw would have been enough to keep the Helsinki team behind.

Last successful KuPS was stronger in Pohjois Helsinki’s Paloheina with a score of 2–0. Pink Ariyo scored both of the visitors’ goals.

– Today, I don’t think there was any doubt which was the better team. We are ready for such games and we came to play today, Ariyo commented after the match.

The Championship medals are the first in club history for HPS, who won bronze.

In addition to silver medals, the stake in the HPS–KuPS match was a place in the new competition launched by the European Football Association next fall.

In the past, only the Finnish champion has received a place in the European games, i.e. in the next year’s Champions League qualifiers. Although KuPS’s three-year championship streak was broken, it will still be seen on the Euro courts next year as well.

– After all, it (a place in the European Games) is a big deal for us. We have played in the European Games for three years in a row, and yes, we should have gotten one more place in the European Games, Ariyo said.

Because the National League will change to an eight-team series next season, three teams from the league were relegated to the First. VIFK from Vaasa takes first place.

PKKU’s relegation from the series jumbo was already confirmed before the final round, as the team had only three series points for the entire season.

Ilves lost to PK-35 at home 2–3 and was last to last in the series. Relegation to a lower league level was also the fate of the traditional main league club FC Honga, although it won its match against PK-35 Vantaa 2–0.