KuPS defeated Ilves in the top match of the Veikkausliiga. FC Inter, in a losing streak, celebrated a home win over FC Haka. HJK’s tight season continued with a loss to AC Oulu.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
21:48•Updated 22:49
Ilves’ and KuPS’s Veikkausliiga football top fight ended with wild celebrations by Kuopio residents. The match was decided by extra time given by the referee, when the substitute player Saku Savolainen scored the 2-1 winning goal for the Kuopio team Clinton Antwin of concentration.
Savolainen seemed, at least momentarily, to be holding hands with the Ilves defender Felipe Aspegren on the shoulders in a bump situation.
– He (Savolainen) was on his back, I couldn’t jump. I was quite sure that the judge (Joni Hyytä) whistle it. But he said I held on, Aspegren wondered.
Jonathan Muzinga took league leader KuPS into the lead in the sixth minute of the game. At about half an hour Jorginho shot Ilves from the front corner to level.
The home team Ilves had to play the last half hour after the Portuguese Jorginho was sent off. Jorginho earned his second warning for an unnecessary sliding tackle Ibrahim Cissen to the feet in Ilves’ attack end.
– I’m not going to root for an individual player and his moves. But it is clear that there is a better chance to win when playing 11 against 11, Ilves head coach Joonas Rantanen said.
FC Inter rumbled from deep to a sweet victory
FC Inter, in a losing streak, defeated FC Haka 3–1. The people of Turku had suffered five consecutive defeats, but now the pot was sweetly full.
Winger Timo Stavitski took Inter into the lead in the third minute and succeeded for the second time at the end of the opening period.
– A 3–1 win in such a situation was really good for our whole team. We played great football against HJK, but lost 0-1. This became our number one game of the season, Stavitski praised.
In the second half Jean Botue took Inter to a 3-0 lead from the penalty kick and Hakan Ryan Mahuta narrowed down.
HJK had to be humbled in Oulu
AC Oulu defeated HJK 1–0 by Justin Rennicks on the finish line. Rennicks succeeded in the 35th minute and led the Oulu team to their first win of the season.
HJK’s evening was dark, if still Diogo Tomas received a red card in the 80th minute. As the lowest man, Tomas deliberately violated the captain of AC Oulu Niklas from Jokelai.
The victory was significant not only for AC Oulu but also for the team’s coach Tuomas Silvennoinenwhich belonged to Toni Koskelan to lead HJK’s coaching group in the seasons 2022 and 2023.
– HJK is the biggest in Finland, so HJK’s scalp is a big deal, and it will be remembered for a long time. There are many acquaintances and friends there. We have to celebrate the victory in a restrained way and thank them for the game, Silvennoinen said.
HJK is only in fifth place in the Veikkausliiga, even though it has played more matches than any other team.
IFK Mariehamn surprised Seinäjoki
In Seinäjoki, IFK Mariehamn pulled off a 2–0 surprise win over home team SJK. Having won only two of their first eight matches of the season, IFK Mariehamn started the tournament as a clear underdog. The loss was only Seinjoki’s second of the season.
Mariehamn’s goals came in the first half of the second period. Sebastian Dahlström hit in the 54th minute and Oskari Sallinen four minutes later.
Ilves-KuPS 1-2 (1-1)
SJK-IFK Mariehamn 0-2 (0-0)
FC Inter-FC Haka 3-1 (2-0)
AC Oulu-HJK 1–0 (1–0)
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