HJK advanced to the group stage of the European games for the third year in a row. According to Pyry Soir, the team wanted to show that it is not easy to come to Helsinki to play.
Henri Kaukonen,
STT Sports
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi beat Romanian Constanta Farul in the Conference League qualifiers 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage.
Read more: HJK reaches the group stage of the European games for the third year in a row – a dominant home performance led to victory over the Romanian champions
HJK winger after the match in Helsinki Try Soiri was satisfied with his team’s performance and the way in which the next place was secured in the end.
– We got what we set out to get. In my opinion, almost the whole game was under our control. Goals were scored and every player gave their all today.
According to Soir, HJK went to the match with the intention of showing that it is not easy to come to Helsinki to play. They helped here Bojan Radulovic the offside hit at the very beginning of the match and the Serbian striker’s first conceded goal at 20 minutes of the match.
Soiri commented on Radulovic’s offside hit in confusion.
– It initially looked like it was a goal. I still don’t know what happened to it.
After an unclear offside decision, Soiri had given his teammate a humorous instruction.
– I told Bojan that it’s better to do another one and he did. After the second one I said do one more and he did. Those were important goals.
Radulovic, the number one goal scorer in the Veikkausliiga, raised the goals he scored in European games higher than others.
– These goals are above the others, because with them we got into the Conference League group. I have scored 14 goals in the league, but these are more important than others right now, Radulovic summarized.
Also the head coach of HJK Toni Korkeakunnas glowed his goal stick.
– We saw the potential with the player monitoring team already during his time at AIK. He has taken big steps and is probably ready for bigger fields, but I wouldn’t let him go yet, at least not willingly.
According to Soir, HJK would have had the opportunity to score even more, and in addition, the team’s defensive game worked excellently. He saved Farul’s most dangerous situation from the goal line, which was eventually ruled offside.
– Farul didn’t get to dangerous places very many times, but at one point they did. I was very involved in it and followed the situation until the end.
Cash jackpot
Europelits are one of HJK’s goals for the season and a place in the group stage is a big deal for the team.
– This is a big deal. Every player wants to play these games. Last year we made it to the Europa League and now to the Conference League, says Soiri.
The club’s chairman and owner were also satisfied with the team’s performance Olli-Pekka Lyytikäinen.
– Very well played. We earned a great deal, both for us and for Suomi-futis, Lyytikäinen beamed.
For HJK, the result also means a jackpot in terms of money, as Uefa pays the winner 2.94 million euros for advancing to the group stage. The players and the team’s background staff also acknowledge their share, as agreed a fifth, or about 600,000 euros, to be distributed.
In group matches, a win is rewarded with 500,000 euros and a draw with 160,000 euros. Advancement to the playoffs would result in more prize money. Of course, the European games also bring significant additional costs to HJK.
The conference league group draws will take place on Friday and the first matches of the group stage will be played on September 21.
However, the people of Helsinki do not have time to celebrate their place in the group stage. On Sunday, HJK and KuPS will play for the Veikkausliiga regular season win. According to Soir, the team will get a good meal from Wednesday’s match, keeping an eye on the deciding games in the home country.
– Let’s take the positives from this, because the Veikkausliiga is our second goal.
HJK also wants to keep Töölö as an unpleasant place to visit for its domestic opponents.