Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Veikkausliiga round 15 review

Another week, another exciting round of fixtures, and the top division remains tight. After Tuesday's fixture, ten points separate the top eight teams. IFK Mariehamn are now two points behind leaders HJK Helsinki, with a game in hand. The champions again failed to win, conceding a late goal at home to MYPA which now means they haven't won in four games, yet remain at the summit.

Mariehamn themselves relied on a late show, with a 2-2 draw away to Honka. An own goal from Sampo Koskinen saved them a point, as they went deep into injury time losing 2-1. The fact that Honka themselves remain only nine points off the top shows how close things are, and at the moment every point is vital.

Honka's Sampo Koskinen, own goal hero of IFK Mariehamn

Inter Turku are now without a win in five games, being on the wrong end of a seven goal thriller in Lahti. VPS are two points behind in fourth after a 2-0 victory over hapless JJK, who've lost five in a row. Haka pulled themselves further from danger with a 1-0 win over TPS, a late goal from Jarno Mattila claiming the points.

The final game was a basement battle between KuPS and Jaro. The Kuopio side were bottom, and trying to prepare for their upcoming Europa League qualifier with Llanelli of Wales (first leg on Thursday). A 60th minute goal from Miikka Ilo was the decider, and KuPS are now off the bottom, with Jaro taking their place. Jaro do have a game in hand on KuPS, but JJK are now being sucked into the battle.

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