I hadn't planned on doing a blog in relation to this week's cup ties, but they turned out to be very interesting indeed... So I'll just do a couple of lines for each match so you can keep up.
PS Kemi 0-2 VPS
Kakkonen Pohjoislohko (third tier north) side Kemi Kings hosted top flight VPS, fresh from defeating TPS 0-1. Kemi held their opponents to a goalless first half, but in the first minute of the second half, Ville Koskimaa and Patrik Lomski scored the goals to take the Vaasa side through. VPS will host JJK in the quarter-finals.
VPS keeper Henri Sillanpää claims the ball (photo via Pohjolan Sanomat)
TPV 1-3 FC Haka
Tampere club TPV, of the Kakkonen Länsilohko (third tier west), hosted twelve-times winners FC Haka on Wednesday in front of 707 people in Tampere. The Ykkönen favourites took the lead through Juha Pirinen on 32mins, but the underdogs equalised straight away through former Haka man Mohamed Koroma. But goals from Tomi Petrescu (free kick on 40 minutes) and Jussi Aalto (56) sent Haka through. They face a home tie with KuPS in the last eight. Here are some excellent photos from the match by Petteri Lehtonen.
Sunny arsed Haka (photo via TPV.fi)
BK-46 0-0 JJK (aet, JJK won 1-4 on penalties)
Another Kakkonen side, BK-46 (of the Etelälohko, or Southern, division) hosted Veikkausliiga opponents JJK, and were close to the biggest shock of the round. As expected, JJK bossed it, but even their official website admitted that as the game went on, the confidence of the home team increased. After 120 minutes, the match went to penalties, but the away team won 1-4. JJK will travel to VPS in the quarter-finals.
JJK's Mikko Innanen prepares to take a corner (photo via Edi Lindberg)
TPS 2-3 IFK Mariehamn (aet)
An all-Veikkausliiga match in Turku ended up becoming the tie of the round. The visitors took the lead just before half-time, on-loan Petteri Forsell scored from a cut back. After the break, TPS took the lead through goals by Ääritalo and Tanska, but Mariehamn sub Dever Orgill equalised and sent the game to extra time. Forsell scored again in the third minute of extra time, and inflicted a second successive home defeat on TPS. IFK Mariehamn progress to a last eight tie at holders Honka.
Highlights of TPS 2-3 IFK Mariehamn
FC Jazz 1-0 JIPPO
Another Kakkonen Länsilohko side FC Jazz were in action against Ykkönen club JIPPO, and it was the home side who prevailed. It was defender Joonas Salo who scored the only goal of the game, after 56 minutes. Even infamous JIPPO trick shot keeper Lassi Hurskainen couldn't keep that out. FC Jazz are the only Kakkonen side in the last eight, where they will play at home against RoPS.
FC Jazz scorer Joonas Salo (photo via FC Jazz.com)
FC KooTeePee 0-1 FC Honka
Holders Honka travelled to Kotka as their cup defence progressed. The Ykkönen side lasted nine minutes against their higher level opponents, Ghanaian defender Gideon Baah headed in from a corner after early pressure. Only 275 people witnessed a match which saw several chances for both teams, but Honka stay in the tournament. They have a home tie against IFK Mariehamn in the quarter-finals.
Highlights of FC KooTeePee 0-1 FC Honka
FC Lahti 1-2 KuPS
A rematch of one of the Liigacup semi-finals, but with a different outcome. KuPS had suffered an indifferent start to the season (draw with MYPA, defeat to Jaro), while Lahti's draw with RoPS looks like being forfeited due an ineligible player. KuPS went into half-time a goal ahead, Aleksi Paananen scoring on 31 minutes. Miikka Ilo doubled the advantage after 65mins, before Lahti sub Rafael pulled one back. But 2012 runners-up KuPS held on, and face a trip to FC Haka in the last eight.
Leaping for the ball (photo via Katja Luoma)
RoPS 1-0 HJK
What ended up being the biggest shock was in Rovaniemi, as champions HJK lost at RoPS. HJK had made changes to the team which defeated Honka on Monday, but would still be surprised to lose. It was a Ville Saxman goal in the second half which made the difference, after 56 minutes. HJK made the long trip by plane, but the trip back will have felt like longer. Defender Nikolai Alho tweeted that the flight was full of young Justin Bieber fans, which won't have helped. RoPS play FC Jazz in the next round.
HJK's Teemu Tainio (in yellow) keeps the ball from Saxman (photo via Lapin Kansa)
Quarter-final draw
FC Jazz v RoPS
FC Honka v IFK Mariehamn
VPS v JJK
FC Haka v KuPS
(Matches to be played in the week beginning May 20th)
Semi-final draw
FC Jazz/RoPS v FC Honka/IFK Mariehamn
VPS/JJK v FC Haka/KuPS
(Matches to be played in the week beginning August 17th)
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