FC Inter 2-2 HJK - re-arranged from week 1

In a fixture that was due to be played on the opening weekend of the season, we finally got to see the clash between 2012's top two. Silver medalists Inter hosted champions HJK on Thursday evening, in front of 2050 paying customers (and those at the top of the Vappu ferris wheel).

Send in the clowns (photo via Jaakko Stenroos)

Both teams won their Monday night fixtures, and made a handful of changes. Inter brought in Turunen and Bouwman, and HJK brought in Joel Pohjanpalo up front for Demba Savage.

HJK stormed out of the blocks, 'Jolle' shooting just wide, and Erfan Zeneli then scoring after just six minutes - after some lax defending, he picked up the ball outside the box, and swerved it into the far corner. Pohjanpalo, named by In Bed With Maradona as one of the top 100 young players for 2013, opened his account for the season by picking up the ball just inside the Inter half, then slipping it past Inter keeper Bahne. 43 minutes in, and the champions were leading 2-0.

Inter coach Job Dragtsma, who'd been sent to the stands in the opening game for kicking a bottle, must have brought that energy into his half-time team talk. First of all, Babacar Diallo pulled it back to 1-2 after 63 minutes, heading in the first goal that HJK had conceded this season. HJK goalie Wallen will be disappointed to be beaten to the ball so easily...

 Diallo heads in to make it 1-2 (photo via HS.fi)

Inter captain Henri Lehtonen equalised seven minutes later, assisted by Tamas Gruborovics. His run from deep was similar to Pohjanpalo's, and the result was the same. The match ended 2-2, Inter will feel like it's a point won, HJK two points lost. Tamas said that they were asleep in the first half...

 Inter celebrate Lehtonen's equaliser (photo via Turun Sanomat)

The result leaves HJK top of the Veikkausliiga after three games on seven points, ahead of IFK Mariehamn on goal difference. Inter sit fourth on four points, pending confirmation that RoPS v Lahti will be credited as a 3-0 win to RoPS (the game ended 1-1, but Lahti fielded a suspended player).

Inter are slowly growing into their season, after a wretched pre-season and losing their opening match to MYPA. Gruborovics is looking like he's becoming the creative hub of the side, although 2012 maalikuningas Irakli Sirbiladze is looking lost.

 Highlights of Inter 2-2 HJK

HJK haven't started badly, seven points from nine is a decent start. Starting with an all-Finnish side is a good sign, and they have two months before the European campaign begins. The true test of this side will be in the summer. Last year, defeats to Celtic and Athletic Bilbao weighed heavy. The goal of a group stage, in either tournament, would be the real achievement.

At the weekend, HJK travel to Jaro, and Inter are at IFK Mariehamn. Come back next week for a full review of week four.