Veikkausliiga week 22 - The return of Morrissey

The recent headlines may have been grabbed by the retirement of Fabrice Muamba, but just as potentially dangerous was the recent diagnosis of myocarditis for VPS striker Steven Morrissey. The Jamaican was diagnosed with the condition in early July, and miraculously returned to action last week with a substitute appearance at home to KuPS. Yet this weekend, he was named in the starting line-up at home to Haka, and made up for lost time. He scored in the first minute of the game after a horrendous error from the Haka keeper, with a second following in the twenty-third minute. He now has eleven league goals for the season - VPS are now sixth, and it's difficult to see where they would be without their number 26. It shows his confidence is in rude health when he tweeted after the game "Should have bin (sic) 3". VPS's Sebastian Strandvall referred to Haka's style of play as destructive, but the defeated side remain two points off the bottom of the table - it's a difficult position to be in, where a more agricultural style could well be more effective.

Morrissey celebrates again

With regard to the battle at the foot of the table, the big movers were KuPS - the only winners in what is now the bottom half, they secured their second victory in a row with a 1-0 home win over Lahti, sealed with a late goal from the club icon Ilja Venäläinen. The main talking point was the red card given to Lahti's German Hendrik Großöhmichen for spitting at Miikka Ilo in the second half. Lahti didn't manage a single shot on target, and are in a poor run of four defeats in their last five games. KuPS are third bottom, and are now only three points behind their visitors. KuPS have another two home games in a row, against JJK and MYPA. Lahti will need to be careful not to be sucked into the relegation scrap. 

Ilja scores for KuPS

The bottom side Jaro were in action at home to TPS on Sunday, and looked like holding on for a scoreless draw before Nigerian Dennis Okaru scored with seventeen minutes left to take the points back to Turku, the goal coming after a Jaro corner which was cleared and Okaru coolly slotted home. Jaro are rooted to the bottom of the table, while TPS are just five points behind leaders and local rivals Inter, with a crucial game in hand (TPS are playing Haka at home this Wednesday, looks like a home banker).

 Jaro v TPS highlights

Leaders Inter Turku had a home match against mid-table Honka on Saturday evening, and after a goalless first half, scored two goals through Irakli Sirbiladze and Pim Bouwman (with a lovely free kick after being fouled on the edge of the box), and a late goal from Tim Väyrynen couldn't make a difference, and the leaders extended their lead to four points. 

Pim Bouwman of Inter

Their nearest challengers are the champions HJK, whose recent form has been poor (seeing them knocked out of the Champions League, and with a big Europa League tie coming up against Athletic Bilbao). But HJK were professional in dealing with the visitors from JJK, two goals in the first half making the difference (Mannstrom and a penalty from Väyrynen). HJK are on 37 points from 22 games, a record they now share with IFK Mariehamn - defeated on Monday night at MYPA. 

HJK v JJK highlights

The hosts won their third consecutive game, goals from Olajide Williams and another from Pekka Sihvola gave MYPA a two goal lead, before a reply from Aleksei Kangaskolkka made it a nervy finale. But the game finished 2-1, IFK lost more ground on first place, and MYPA go fifth, still with a good chance of returning to European competition in 2013.

With the attentions moving to the opening games in England and Spain, the Veikkausliiga continues to provide drama. The midweek game will have a big bearing on the table, and Honka will finally learn their opponent in the Suomen Cup final next week. HJK face a huge test against beaten Europa League finalists Bilbao this week.