Veikkausliiga week 31 - Last gasp Ojala keeps Inter involved

While the FIFA calendar ensures international football comes at the most inconvenient times for all nations, the scheduling of the Veikkausliiga meant that only three rounds of fixtures remained on the return to domestic matches.

After the relatively low-key games at the top of the table, where each of the three title contenders won their home ties 1-0, all three had to travel. Leaders HJK played VPS, Inter at bottom side Haka, and TPS to Mariehamn.

HJK's visit to VPS had the potential for a banana skin, with VPS having had a poor record against the top teams, but always dangerous with Steven Morrissey on fourteen goals for the season. HJK dominated the first half, winning corner after corner... But two goals before half time, a lovely run and finish by Joel Pohjanpalo and an unfortunate own goal from Denis Abdulahi, gave HJK a lead they weren't likely to surrender. A Parikka penalty in the second half gave VPS a chance, but HJK clinched the win with a Berat Sadik goal on the hour. HJK now have 58 points, VPS are in seventh place on 43. Outgoing HJK coach praised the team's attitude afterwards, but will be concerned at more poor finishing.

Pohjanpalo scored the opening goal

Highlights of VPS 1-3 HJK

Meanwhile... Inter's appointment with Haka would be difficult as the hosts were fighting to remain in the league, as they started the game three points behind Jaro. It was Haka that took the lead through Brazilian Dema after 21 minutes, and they would have been hoping for a first win since mid-July. They made it to half-time with the lead, and Inter were getting nervous, with Bouwman and Kauko picking up bookings before the break. But Inter saved their season in the end, thanks to Hacken-bound Mike Ojala. He scored twice in the second half, including the winner in injury time, to keep the Turku team a point behind HJK. Kauko was sent off for a second booking, and will miss the next match. That match is a huge derby against TPS on Monday evening. More to come on that later. Haka remain on 26 points, rooted at the bottom, with their last two matches at home to Honka and away to VPS.

Inter celebrate their comeback

Third placed TPS meanwhile started the day two points behind HJK, and had a tricky trip to fourth place IFKM. IFK were in contention themselves not long ago, and needed a win to give themselves an outside chance of Europa League football next summer. The first half was goalless, but IFK were in danger of throwing the game away through poor discipline, three bookings followed by a red card for Canadian Mason Trafford. But there was one goal, and it was for the home side, Saihou Jagne with his fifth goal of the season. So IFK take the points, and pretty much end the hopes of TPS. IFK need to win their last two games, at Jaro and at home to MYPA, for a chance of continental football. TPS still have a say in the title race, a win over rivals Inter will virtually gift the title to HJK. They need two points from two games to guarantee at least third place and the bronze medal position.

IFK scorer Jagne in action

Highlights of IFKM 1-0 TPS

Cup winners Honka have been subject of speculation as to whether they will be able to afford a license to compete in next season's top flight, despite their recent glory. Ykkönen runners up SJK are rumoured to have been asked to prepare to fund an application should Honka fail, but Honka had a chance to distract the fans for ninety minutes at least, with a Cup final rematch against KuPS. KuPS were still mathematically in danger of relegation, but that would have required Haka to win all their remaining games, which as we covered earlier, didn't happen. 717 people paid to watch the game live, and saw Honka take the lead, a deflected strike from Jusso Simpanen finding the net. KuPS equalised in first half injury time thanks to a great free kick from Miikka Ilo, but Honka scored an 80th minute winner, substitute Youness Rahimi beating Joonas Pöntinen (he should have done better). KuPS are now safely stuck in tenth place, unlikely to move from there, while Honka stay eighth, and unlikely to make the top half, although off-the-pitch decision makers may rule on whether they stay in the division at all for 2013.

Duarte Tammilehto tries the Schmeichel

Highlights of Honka 2-1 KuPS

The second bottom club Jaro were three points ahead of Haka, and travelled to Jyväskylä hoping for a win that would virtually preserve their Veikkausliiga status, against JJK. Jaro weren't in bad form, with only one defeat in six games since the signings of Steven Irwin and Sherif Ashraf, but JJK have scored plenty of goals at home this season, and it was no different - Mikko Innanen scored twice, and goals from Manninen and Markkanen made it four goals for JJK. Emet and Ashraf got goals for Jaro, but the result was 4-2. Not ideal for Jaro, but with Haka losing, they know that a win against Mariehamn or TPS will pretty much mean they're safe, assuming Haka pick up points. JJK are ninth, again unlikely to make it into the top half. Like KuPS, JJK appear to have sufferered from European involvement, and will be looking to improve next year.

 JJK wore pink to raise awareness of breast cancer

The final match saw Lahti return to form with a home win against MYPA. Lahti have now picked up 19 points out of 24, and have made a late surge into the top half. With this win, they have overtaken MYPA into fifth, and could yet have a say in the title race, as they visit Helsinki on Monday. Lahti's early goal by Hietanen was cancelled by Olajide Williams, but Lahti scored twice more, through Mero and substitute Rafael (subject of a Guardian article last weekend about Brazilians abroad, see here). Lahti have ended the season fantastically, and are likely to earn the extra home game in 2013 that a top half spot brings.

Lahti and MYPA weren't briefed about facing the camera

So the preview for week 32 is this: If HJK win at home to Lahti, and Inter fail to beat TPS, then the title will remain in Helsinki, bar a huge goal difference swing on the final day. An Inter win will keep things going to the final day.

At the bottom, a Haka defeat (at home to Honka) will almost certainly relegate them. A Jaro win at home to IFK will also pretty much relegate Haka. A Haka win and a Jaro defeat... The goal difference is similar, Haka currently -27, Jaro -24...

We'll know more on Monday evening, make sure you follow @escapetosuomi on Twitter for more updates.

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.