Veikkausliiga week 22 - Late Lahti

I spent the weekend in Manchester, watching cricket. Unfortunately I missed Saturday's match, so this is a bit of a rush job. Becoming a theme really! Anyway, a quick re-cap. I'll skip over the goalless draws...

TPS 1-2 Lahti

Monday night's clash was important for both sides - TPS were losing touch with the top, deep in the middle pack with games in hand. Lahti needed to keep up their recent good form, and to create space between themselves and JJK.

Spot the ball (photo via TS)

Lahti took the lead early, Loorents Hertsi's third goal in four games with just seven minutes gone. TPS waited until deep into the second half, Wayne Brown equalising with fifteen minutes left. It was the second minute of injury time when Markus Joenmäki popped up to win it. TPS will also be rueing the loss of Kennedy Eriba, potentially out for the season after a nasty ankle injury.

Highlights of TPS 1-2 Lahti

TPS drop to eighth place in the table, with 27 points from 20 games. Lahti overtake Inter and are in tenth, also with 27 points from their 22 matches.

VPS 2-2 IFK Mariehamn

Another late show was crucial, and VPS will be kicking themselves. They'd got themselves a 2-0 lead after two goals from Tomi Ameobi, and all looked safe for a rare three points. But Mariehamn were inspired by the returning Petteri Forsell, looking vibrant after a long lay-off, and goals from Mattias Wiklöf (80') and Forsell (89') secured a valuable point.

Highlights of VPS 2-2 IFK Mariehamn

VPS remain in third place, with 33 points from 22 matches. Mariehamn are sixth, 29 points from 22 games.

JJK 0-3 MYPA

During a difficult time off the pitch, JJK could sorely use three points in their bid to avoid the drop. A home tie against a MYPA side in poor form looked like an ideal time - but this was a chasing. A 39th minute goal from Ville Salmikivi set the tone, and two quick goals from Pekka Sihvola (56') and Jonathon Okafor (59') sealed it. Another red card for the hosts, this time Anssi Viren, ensured a wretched day.

Highlights of the game can be seen here, via the KSML website.

JJK remain bottom, 18 points from 22 games, six points adrift of the team above them. MYPA are fifth, 29 points from 21 games.

KuPS 0-0 HJK

A record (official) crowd of 4379 for KuPS greeted HJK - unfortunately the club won't be relying on word of mouth for future ticket sales. An uninspiring match, committed but with few chances, and a point that does little for either side.

Highlights of KuPS 0-0 HJK

KuPS are sixth, with 27 points from 22 matches. HJK are second, 41 matches from 21 games, two points behind Honka.

Honka 0-0 Inter

Two red cards, plenty of yellows, not much for the attending scouts (there have been a few at Honka this season), and again a stalemate, but with the referee having a starring role. Honka missed a chance to extend their lead, while Inter's season continues to limp with nothing to show - one league win in 15 games with six goals scored in those.

Highlights of Honka 0-0 Inter

Honka remain top, with 43 points from 22 matches. Inter are eleventh, with 24 points from 22 games.

RoPS 0-0 Jaro

There are rarely goals in Rovaniemi. Jaro have been in good form. One was bound to win out - and it was a third goalless draw in five home matches for RoPS. Jaro are struggling with injuries, but will look at a missed chance.

Highlights of RoPS 0-0 Jaro

RoPS are ninth, 27 points from 22 games. Jaro are fourth, 32 points from 22 matches.

Veikkausliiga week 21 - HJK leave it late

After a pretty poor week for Finnish football, with HJK and Honka's European defeats meaning the end of Finnish involvement with UEFA before the end of July, league festivities resumed with matches on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

HJK 2-0 JJK

After three matches without a win (including both Champions League ties), HJK couldn't have asked for a different fixture - at home against bottom side JJK. But they made hard work of it. Some nice passages of play, plenty of chances created, but poor finishing could have cost them dear. In the end, goals from Demba Savaga (80 mins) and sub Joel Perovuo (90 mins) won them the points.

JJK's total socks didn't work

Highlights of HJK 2-0 JJK

HJK remain second in the table, with 40 points from twenty matches. JJK are twelvth, with seventeen points from 20 games.

Lahti 0-1 Honka

Going out of the Europa League with a decent performance, but a 2-5 aggregate defeat, Honka were looking for a result against the team in 11th. But they travelled to Lahti without injured Méïté, Yaghoubi and Väyrynen. An early goal from Kastriot Kastrati (18') sealed the points, and it was a hard earned win for the leaders. Lahti meanwhile confirmed that on-loan keeper Jesse Joronen would be returning to Fulham at the end of his loan.

Happy Honka celebrate (in white)

Highlights of Lahti 0-1 Honka

Honka are top of the table, with 42 points from 21 games. Lahti are eleventh, with 21 points from 20 matches.

Inter 2-2 KuPS

Inter were without a home win in six. KuPS without an away win in six. Of course this was going to be a draw. An early Gruborovics penalty (5') gave Inter the lead, but it was spectacularly equalised by Aleksi Paananen (19'). Sirbiladze pounced on a keeper error to slot home after a Bouwman shot, restoring the lead (31'), before a second half goal from Dawda Bah (67') ensured the game ended 2-2.

Highlights of Inter 2-2 KuPS

Last year's runners-up Inter are tenth, 23 points from 21 matches. KuPS are sixth with 26 points from 21 games.

Jaro 2-1 VPS

The big Ostrobothnia derby was built up, and alas saw Jaro keeper Jesse Ost harassed by VPS fans in the build up. The match itself saw two goals for Shahdon Winchester, his impressive debut season now showing seven goals for his trouble. The first was a neat finish on 4mins, the second on 79mins was from an acute angle. A late consolation from Jordan Seabrook meant little in the end.

Highlights of Jaro 2-1 TPS

Jaro are fourth in the table, with thirth points from 20 games (they had 33 in the whole of 2012). VPS are third, with 32 points from 20 matches.

MYPA 0-1 RoPS

A first away Veikkausliiga win since October 2011 (excusing a year in the second tier) for RoPS mean they go above with MYPA in the table - a third minute headed goal from Faith Obilor was successfully defended, and MYPA's good start is going to waste.

Highlights of MYPA 0-1 RoPS

MYPA are down to ninth place, with 26 points from 20 matches. RoPS go up to eighth, with 26 points from 21 games.

IFK Mariehamn 2-0 TPS

Topsy-turvy seasons for both teams, and it was Mariehamn who needed two late goals to win. They debuted Brazilian midfielder Bernado Ribeiro, but it was sub Kris Bright's 83rd minute goal (his eighth of the season) and new boy Tomas Hradecky's first goal (88') that sealed the points, and TPS to a sixth league match without victory.

Highlights of IFK Mariehamn 2-0 TPS

IFK Mariehamn are now up to fifth, with 28 points from 21 games. TPS drop below them, and are in sixth place with 27 points from 19 matches.