Ilves beat HJK away from home in the main series for the first time in 40 years.
28.9. 21:33•Updated 28.9. 22:15
Ilves kept its chance for the Veikkausliiga championship when it defeated HJK Töölö 1–0 in the top fight of the Championship Series.
The win was Ilves’ first away win against HJK in the main league in 40 years.
The team from Tampere won its third consecutive victory and climbed to the top of the series by a point, ahead of KuPS, who played less matches. HJK is now third, three points behind the leader.
Ilves and HJK have two matches left, KuPS has three, so basically everyone still has a chance for the championship.
However, for HJK, who played their third consecutive winless match in the Veikkausliiga, the loss was a hard blow for their championship dreams, because the gold medals are no longer in their own hands.
HJK still plays against Haka and KuPS. The Helsinki team should win both matches and hope that KuPS and Ilves lose points. Ilves’ championship would also require KuPS to lose points.
HJK’s defender of Daniel O’Shaughnessy according to the team couldn’t get their best game rolling on their home field.
– Today was not enough to get better than that. The opponent was one goal better, O’Shaughnessy acknowledged.
Risk solved
The confessional match went goalless until the 82nd minute, until Ilves Oiva Jukkola continued Jorginho wearing the focus sent by the central area For Roope Riskwho inoculated his former club with a precise shot.
The risk was transferred from HJK to Ilves for this season. The goal was his ninth of the season and he rose to seventh in the league’s goalscorers.
Riski, who came on the field in the second half from the substitution, said that the match against his former club involved a small extra charge.
– The leg was loaded all the time, in case there was a place, and it was. To be honest, it was a bit of a pain in the teeth when I had to start from the bench. This was a big game for me personally to come and play against HJK. It was nice to get on the field and give something to the team.
This week, Ilves defeated both KuPS and HJK as their main opponents and left them without any goals.
– That says a lot about our gang. We have a tough team. This is where the future is built. This is just the beginning of the story. You just have to keep this on and take it from this year into the future. I believe that Ilves has a bright future, Riski said.
Sports expert Antti Pohjan according to Ilves earned their victory in an even match.
– The match could have gone either way, but Ilves clearly went for a win even with the substitutions, not to settle for a draw and secure a away point.
The remaining matches in the Veikkausliiga’s upper final series, i.e. the Championship Series:
Sun 29.9.
KuPS–Haka at 4 p.m
Fri 4.10.
VPS–Ilves at 6 p.m
Sat 5.10.
SJK–KuPS at 5 p.m
Sun 6.10.
HJK–Haka at 18:30
Sat 19.10.
Haka–VPS at 6 p.m
Ilves–SJK at 6 p.m
KuPS–HJK at 6 p.m
Added at 21:54 players’ comments.
Added at 22:02 Antti Pohja’s comment.