Veikkausliiga week 30 review - 1-0 to the top three

(Apologies for the delay, work/man-flu/puppy getting in the way - this will just be a short round-up, followed by a very short week 31 preview).

Week 30 in the Veikkausliiga threatened be just as unpredictable as the rest of the season. The top of the table has been close, and it seems like the team at the top gets stage-fright and drops points, allowing the rest of the pack to catch up. Inter were threatening to run away with the title, but their form between internationals was played 6, won 1, drew 4, lost 1, for just seven points. Over the same period, HJK took twelve points, and TPS thirteen.

As it was, the fixtures for all three were about as kind as they could, almost designed to keep things steady going into the latest FIFA enforced break. TPS at home to a JJK. Inter at home to a fading Mariehamn. HJK hosting cup winners Honka. All three games ended 1-0 to the home team.

Demba Savage celebrates HJK's winner against Honka

HJK struggled their way to their victory, where perhaps the pressure of needing to win weighed heavily. A bad-tempered game saw six yellow cards, but it was a goal from Demba Savage against his former club (his eleventh of the season) that kept HJK's noses in front. In the interests of fairness, I've embedded Honka's highlights of the game...

Highlights of HJK 1-0 Honka

Second placed Inter were facing IFK Mariehamn, who not long ago had title ambitions of their own... Inter's form was rotten, although IFK's wasn't any better (one win in five). An early goal from the Goal King to be Irakli Sirbiladze was enough to give Inter the win, but it's safe to say that IFK keeper Simon Nurme will be having nightmares about the goal for a while... Inter face a tricky match away to strugglers Haka next, and will have to deal with a lot more resistance.

An embarrassed Sirbiladze celebrates his winner

Highlights of Inter 1-0 IFK

Inter's local rivals TPS opened the weekend with their home match against JJK, who had won the previous meetings between the two in 2012... But TPS have a title to fight for this time, and Dennis Okaru's eighth goal of the season secured a vital home win. Dennis gave an interview to UrhoTV about his dream of playing for Real Madrid, and while it may be a distant hope, he's doing his bit to get some silverware.

The Turku crowd go wild

 

Highlights of TPS 1-0 JJK

Without meaning to gloss over the rest of the league too much, MYPA drew 1-1 with VPS in a mid-table match, where nothing particularly exciting or controversial happened... 

The two clubs fighting to avoid relegation were both in action, Haka at KuPS and Jaro at home to in-form Lahti. Haka went 1-0 up and were looking great value for an unlikely win through Juha Pirinen's first half goal, but KuPS virtually preserved their own Veikkausliiga status with an 88th minute equaliser by Pietari Holopainen (two in two games now!). Haka now remain on 26 points...

Jaro are three points clear of Haka, thanks to a 2-1 win over Lahti, who had won 5 of their last 6 games. Lahti took the lead through Drilon Shila in the first half, but Jaro came from behind to secure a huge victory through Papa Niang and Frank Jonke. Jaro's recent form has been good, with just one defeat in six.

Highlights of Jaro 2-1 Lahti

And so to week 31. Not too many of the contenders were involved in international action, and matches resume this Friday (19th). Leaders HJK travel to VPS, Inter are at Haka, and TPS go to Mariehamn. Jaro will look to virtually confirm their stay in the top flight by travelling to JJK, and Lahti could go as high as fourth with a win over MYPA.

Three games to go, could this be the week that says goodbye to Haka, or almost crown HJK? Friday night football is on the menu, and the weekend begins here.

Veikkausliiga week 29 - Inter choke after HJK controversy

This week has seen a huge interest in Finnish football from across the world, although perhaps not for the reasons the marketing department within the Finnish FA would have hoped. It was not for a tremendous piece of skill, or for the emergence of a great talent. This was for a controversial moment in a huge game which had an impact at both ends of the table, and one which has made it's way onto millions of computers and smartphones, retweeted by popular websites, and analysed to death.

The match was Haka v HJK, bottom v top. Monday night saw the resumption of league football after the Suomen Cup final took pride of place. Haka had already beaten TPS at home this season, and were hoping to repeat the feat against the champions. Things were looking fantastic, as Haka took a two goal lead, through goals from Shane Robinson and Kris Bright, before controversy struck...

The ref didn't get the updated dress code

Now plenty of people have been quick to quote the rules stating that technically the goal was correct as the referee deemed that the throw-in nearer the halfway line was not interfering with play... But does that console the players, officials or fans of Haka? To be 2-0 up against the leaders, and to concede a goal like that is galling. The goal was credited to Juho Mäkelä, and to rub it in, Valtteri Moren then equalised eight minutes later. Some may say justice was done thanks to a late penalty miss by Akseli Pelvas, but it's no consolation, and the game finished 2-2. Not ideal for either, with Haka still bottom, and HJK only gaining a point.

The video has come to light in several guises, with this blog from Futisblogi Puoliaika (in Finnish) analysing the incident in fantastic detail. Much like the famous beach ball incident in the game between Sunderland and Liverpool, it has highlighted a little known rule of the game, and created huge debate. Is it for the better? Hard to say.

HJK's day took a greater turn with the match between in-form Lahti and title challengers TPS. Lahti had won 13 out of 15 points, elevating themselves into the top half of the table; while TPS had only lost one game in ten, albeit at home to HJK. In the end, a late goal from Drilon Shala won the game 1-0 for Lahti, who sit in fifth after the week's games. TPS meanwhile lie in third, two points behind HJK. Their manager Marc Rajamäki said that his team are just trying to collect as many points as they can, but there is still hope, and they still have the best goal difference.

Goalscorer Shala

The other contender was Inter, with what looked like a simple home game against Suomen Cup runners-up KuPS. Or so they thought... Inter's recent form was stinking the league out, with four consecutive draws costing them their lead, while KuPS have been unpredictable all season, interspersed with their European campaign. But it was the visitors who took the lead, Purje with a goal just before the break. Amazingly, KuPS went 2-0 up through Pietari Holopainen, before a consolation from leading goalscorer Irakli Sirbiladze (now on 16 for the season). Chris James sealed a shock result with two goals, KuPS winning 4-1. Inter now haven't won in over a month, while KuPS have opened a gap of seven points between them and bottom placed Haka.

Highlights of Inter 1-4 KuPS

Meanwhile, the cup winners (and fourth entrant to the 2013/14 Europa League) entertained MYPA on Thursday evening. Did the recent glory of a first ever Suomen Cup victory bring the crowds in from all over Espoo? Er, no. 604 people were in attendance, meaning the Tapiolan Urheilupuisto, capacity 5500, meaning only 11% of the stadium was occupied. Pretty poor form really, but also indicative of the fact that in league terms, the game meant very little. The match itself saw the home team take the lead in the first half, Antti Mäkijärvi's free kick flying over the MYPA keeper and into the top corner - one for the video scrapbook. Honka had plenty of chances to finish the match off, but a low drive from substitute Ville Saxman secured a point for MYPA. The result leaves Honka in 8th place, MYPA in 5th.

Highlight of Honka 1-1 MYPA

Jaro travelled to Vaasa having not lost in four matches, beating Honka most recently. But their good run was to come to an end against a Steven Morrissey-inspired VPS. The Jamaican bagged his 14th league goal of the season after 17 minutes, pouncing on a defensive mix-up. Morrissey then turned provider, playing a nice through ball for Robin Lod to score after more poor play in the Jaro defence. A last minute consolation from Frank Jonke could still be important for goal difference, with Jaro just one point ahead of Haka, and a GD advantage of three goals.

Highlights of VPS 2-1 Jaro

The other match of the week was in Jyväskylä, where JJK hosted an IFK Mariehamn team with dwindling title ambitions. JJK were looking for a first win in five, starting the match in ninth place; while Mariehamn were losing touch with the leading three teams, despite a recent run which almost took them back into contention. JJK scored twice in the first half, Markkanen and Innanen with the goals - but IFKM levelled through second half goals from Robin Östlind and Kangaskolkka with his 14th league goal. But the goal jolted JJK back into life, Eero Markkanen scored again in the 82nd minute to seal the win for JJK, and a ninth goal in 12 games.

After a controversial week, the league table remains unchanged. But two points cover the top three teams, and only ten points cover the top seven. At the bottom, KuPS now have a seven point gap, but Haka have narrowed the abyss to one point.