Urheilu’s expert Antti Pohja breaks down the talking points of the opening round of the Veikkausliiga.
Aino Paloniemi,
Jaakko Servo
The domestic football league season started on Saturday with a full round of the Veikkausliiga. In the opening round, Gnistan, SJK, Mariehamn, VPS and KuPS won.
Sports expert Antti Pohja makes the star moment of the raucous opening round, who returned to his parent club Kuopio Palloseura this season Petteri Pennanen 3–0 against HJK.
– Kuopio’s own son is returning home and the atmosphere was somehow really chilling, he goes in front of the fans and clearly enjoyed the situation.
After Pennanen’s goal, HJK supporters caused disorder by knocking down fences and throwing plastic cans, ice and snow onto the field.
The final scores in the meeting between KuPS and reigning champion HJK were 3–1. The team from Helsinki, which started the season with a superior budget, opened its season sluggishly.
– Yes, it’s really interesting, because obviously the performance was also weak compared to expectations. Of course, the start of the season has been a bit of a puzzle anyway.
Among other things, the head coach patterns were still in a knot before the season, when Ferran Sibila didn’t make it to the Uefa Pro license course in Sweden. In January, the head coach was named Ossi Virta.
– Raises more question marks about where HJK is currently going. Expectations are certainly high and a strategic choice has been made to apply for something new. At the moment, of course, with such an opening, there will only be more questions. Is HJK on the right track at this point?
The Tammela stadium was properly heated
At the meeting between Ilves and FC Lahti in Tampere, the new Tammela stadium was inaugurated at the same time. The beginning of a new era left a lot to be desired after the match. Ilves got the ball into the goal in extra time, but due to the foul that preceded the situation, the goal was disallowed.
– We looked at that slowdown many times and it is clear that there was contact with the goalkeeper, who clearly suffered from it.
In the situation, the jury looked Juhani Pikkarainen the goalkeeper of Lahti who interfered Osku Maukonen prevention work.
– It’s a different matter how much the Lahti defender missed Pikkarainen’s hit on Maukosen. It was a really dramatic end, commented Pohja on the match that ended in a goalless draw.
The one who got the ball into the goal from a corner kick provided his own spice to the situation Santeri Haaralan ventilation. The Ilves player took off his shirt, received a second yellow card in the match and was kicked out of the game.
– All in all, a great event. There was a rare great mood in Tammela and it shows how important the conditions are to the development of Veikkausliiga events. Ilves has a great future ahead.
A strong entry from Gnistan
Gnistan from Oulunkylä and EIF from Tammisaari, who were promoted to Veikkausliiga for this season, also offered uplifting football entertainment. EIF’s season opener ended with a narrow 2-3 loss against IFK Mariehamn.
Gnistan, which turns 100 years old, opened its Veikkausliiga campaign with a victory when it surprised Turku Inter 2–1.
The people of Oulunk managed to freeze it Vesa Vasaran Inter’s game, which has been transferred to coaching. More than 2,300 spectators witnessed the historic victory in the sold-out stadium.
– Gnistan has strongly joined the betting league family.
Pohja believes that Gnistan’s winning goal, in particular, describes well the kind of game the team aims to play this season. The situation was preceded by a strong press and possession of the ball at the top.
– That’s a great goal, you can’t imagine a much better starting point for their league match. Inter, one of the biggest medal favorites, falls at home, so Gnistan did start better than well.
The season continues on Thursday with the meeting between HJK and FC Lahti. will show a total of six Veikkausliiga matches during the season, the next one being Gnistan–KuPS on Sunday, May 19.
See all the goals of the opening round of the Veikkausliiga in the video below.