Veikkausliiga week 6 (part I) - MYPA catching up, VPS stumble

Week six of the Veikkausliiga was split over two days (four games Sunday and two on Monday) - and there were plenty of goals to focus on.

IFK Mariehamn 0-4 MYPA

A fact that has seen plenty of airtime recently showed that IFK Mariehamn hadn't lost a home game since the end of the 2011 season. But in three games in 2013, they've now only earned one point and that was down to a late equaliser against JJK.

 Ducking under the ball (photo via Siri Lindén)

MYPA had made a reasonable start to 2013, beating Inter and Honka already. But a home defeat to Jaro on Thursday showed their inconsistency. Without a Europa League campaign to worry about this year, their main focus is on getting back into Europe via league places. Mariehamn meanwhile found out this week that they would be in Europe via the Fair Play rankings.

The visitors only took twenty minutes to take the lead, actually the latest opening goal of Sunday's games. Sasha Anttilainen scored his second goal in two games, and it was all downhill from there for the hosts. Olajide Williams got his first goal of 2013 before half-time, and it was 0-2. After the break, Lody and Sihvola added insult to misery, and Mariehamn were on the end of a 0-4 home defeat.

Highlights of IFK Mariehamn 0-4 MYPA

Since Pekka Lyyski and Petteri Forsell won the April awards for coach and player of the month, May has seen one point in three games, with just one goal. In England, the awards are seen as a curse, and it'll be interesting to follow the awards in Finland too.

VPS 1-2 KuPS

The KuPS recovery continued in Vaasa, and the difference was a pair of Gambians. KuPS had taken five games to register their first win (a 4-1 win over TPS on Thursday), and this was just as crucial.

 Attacking the ball (photo via Eetu Sillanpää)

VPS had made a surprisingly good start, with ten points from four games. Built on a solid defence, they were caught cold by the visitors. Dawda Bah had been one of the best imports in recent history, with titles at HJK. His time in Germany was ruined by nasty injury, but he broke his 2013 duck in the week, and scored from the edge of the box after 10 minutes. VPS equalised 15 minutes later, Jarno Parikka following in after a Tomi Ameobi shot. But defender Omar Colley won it just before half-time from a corner. Colley has had a mixed start, but was highly rated, and this is more like it.

Highlights of VPS 1-2 KuPS

KuPS now have seven points from their six matches. VPS have ten from five. Suddenly the difference isn't so stark.

RoPS 4-0 JJK

Another side with a shaky start, RoPS returned home with a thumping of bottom club JJK. The visitors had looked decent at Mariehamn, but otherwise limp.

Striking the ball (photo via Raija Suopajärvi)

RoPS started early, twelve minutes lapsed before Antti Okkonen's opener. Niklas Tarvajärvi made it 2-0 on half-time, before Boris Kokko scored twice in the second half, leaving making it 4-0.

Highlights of RoPS 4-0 JJK

JJK remain rooted at the bottom, already three points behind 11th placed Honka. RoPS have done fairly well, and are looking like they will need plenty of home points.

Jaro 2-2 Honka

A fiesty game between two sides with mixed starts - four goals (one an own goal), a red card, and a rather saccharine Mother's Day appeal.

A happy Jaro bench (photo via ffjaro.fi)

Kastriot Kastrati scored twice for Honka, both crucial. The first opened the scoring after 14 minutes, before a Henri Aalto own goal levelled it on 35mins. Markus Kronholm gave Jaro the lead in the second half, before Jonas Emet received two quick bookings (and then the red). Kastrati scored again with 13 minutes remaining, and it ended 2-2.

Highlights of Jaro 2-2 Honka

Jaro have made a good start, but keep conceding. They have seven points from five matches. Honka's new players are slowly gelling together, building up to their Europa League campaign. They have five points from six matches.

Part two of the round-up (featuring TPS v Inter and Lahti v HJK is coming soon).

Veikkausliiga week 5 - KuPS win at last, VPS rise on Ascension Day

Thursday in Finland was helatorstai (Ascension Day), so we got a bonus round of fixtures this week - all twelve teams were in action, so here's a quick summary... It's shorter than the usual, but hopefully we'll be back to normal next week.

KuPS 4-1 TPS

KuPS finally got their first win, and they did it in style. Coach Esa Pekonen was under extreme pressure after their awful start, but it was TPS who started quickest, Mika Ääritalo with a goal after 2 mins. KuPS forward Ilja Venäläinen was the difference, with the first league hat-trick of the season, goals in the 26, 40 and 59th minutes. Gambian Dawda Bah also scored his first goal since his return to Finland.

Gambians Colley and Bah celebrate (photo via Vartaloharhautus)

Highlights of KuPS 4-1 TPS

KuPS have 4 points from their five games, while TPS have now lost 3 times already, and have 6 points.

JJK 0-1 VPS

VPS remain the surprise in the upper half of the table, collecting another win. It was substitute Jordan Seabrook with the goal on 71 minutes, and amazingly leaves VPS second, having only conceded one goal so far. JJK have only picked up 2 draws from their opening four games, and their only two goals came in the draw at IFK Mariehamn.

Inter 2-0 Lahti

Inter's return to form continued with another win, this time against Lahti. Henri Lehtonen opened the scoring just after the hour, his second goal in three games. New signing Tamas Gruborovics has had a promising start since coming from JJK, and scored his first Inter goal to seal the win after 75mins. Fulham's on loan keeper conceded his first goals for Lahti.

 Inter old-boy Joni Aho tackling Lehtonen (photo via Ilta-Sanomat)

Inter are third in the table, with 10 points from their first five games. Lahti have four points from four games (accounting for the RoPS match).

 

Highlights of Inter 2-0 Lahti

 
Honka 2-0 RoPS

Honka's won their first league match at the fifth attempt (and scored their first goals), against a RoPS side who look like their away form could prove crucial. Jussi Vasara opened the scoring just after the hour, the ball eventually dropping to him inside the box (Faith Obilor got the last touch). A ridiculously blind backpass from RoPS defender Ndukaku gave Nnaemeka Anyamele virtually an open goal.

Honka rise from the bottom of the table, and have four points from five games. RoPS have six points (including those awarded for the game v Lahti).

Highlights of Honka 2-0 RoPS

HJK 0-0 IFK Mariehamn

In a match which opened by remembering HJK legend Kai Pahlman, the highest attendance of the season so far saw of the form teams try hard, but there were no goals. IFK Mariehamn had a goal disallowed in the first half for offside, and their tactic of letting (April Player of the Month) Petteri Forsell shoot from 30 yards out came close to a goal. HJK created a few chances of their own, but looked laboured.

HJK remain top with 11 points from five matches, while Mariehamn are fourth, with 8 points from five games.

Highlights of HJK 0-0 IFK Mariehamn

MYPA 1-2 Jaro

Jaro were tipped by most to be relegated this year, but sit in the top half of the table after this good win at MYPA. Jonas Emet scored after 14 minutes, and hot prospect Simon Skrabb doubled the lead on 38. The hosts pulled one back just before half time, Sasha Anttilainen scoring, but Jaro saw the game out. In their defeats to Inter and HJK, they created plenty but came away with nothing.

Jaro are sixth, with 6 points from four games, scoring and conceding six goals. MYPA are fifth, with 7 points from five matches.

Highlights of MYPA 1-2 Jaro