Veikkausliiga week 8 - VPS go top, Honka continue upwards

A rarity this week - being able to watch two matches at the same time. Five matches on Thursday, here's what happened.

HJK 1-2 VPS

Another shock result in Helsinki, and things aren't so rosy. HJK hadn't lost a home league game since August 2010 - they've now lost two in a row. TPS on Friday, VPS on Thursday.

 Robin Lod tries to keep the ball from Bjork (photo via Lehtikuva)

Missing the suspended Teemu Tainio, and leaving Mikael Forssell on the bench again, HJK looked comfortable with a Joel Pohjanpalo goal after nine minutes, thanks to an outlandish back-heel from Demba Savage. But the changes seemed to knock the champions out of their stride, and they got stung by goals from Ameobi (pea roller from edge of the box, 52mins) and Strandvall (nice finish from layoff, 72mins). Ameobi even hit the post in the dying seconds.

VPS move top of the table on goal difference, fourteen points from seven matches. HJK are also on fourteen, but from eight games.

 A very young looking Pohjanpalo struggles with Smith (photo via Antti Aimo-Koivisto)

The pressure is rising against new coach Sixten Boström, as the "HJK in crisis" headlines are already being typed. The real test will be in Europe, but they could be accused of taking their eye off the ball... 

VPS meanwhile, tipped by many to struggle (including me), have made a cracking start. Will Ameobi prove to be the striker they needed? Early signs are good, and their first win at HJK since 1962 will bode well.

Highlights of HJK 1-2 VPS

Honka 2-1 IFK Mariehamn

The second meeting of the clubs within three days ended with the same score, but the result went the other way. While IFK Mariehamn prevailed in the cup tie, Honka's recent league improvement continued here.

 Saarinen and Thompson compete (photo via Vesa Moilanen)

Two goals in the first thirteen minutes won it, Ruben Palazuelos' first goal in Finland was followed by Youness Rahimi's goal. The visitors, missing the injured Petteri Forsell, got a consolation goal by Dever Orgill (who scored Monday's winner). There were also five yellow cards in the game.

Honka are now in seventh place, having won three of their last four games. Mariehamn meanwhile only have one win in five, and will struggle to replace Forsell, who may not play again before returning to Turkey.

Highlights of Honka 2-1 IFK Mariehamn

Lahti 1-2 FF Jaro

It took over 400 minutes of Veikkausliiga for Lahti to score a league goal - but they chucked it away. Jaro even gave them a man advantage, Mathias Kullström taking two bookings in five minutes, getting the red on 35 minutes.

 Entanglement (photo via Antti Sepponen)

Jussi Länsitalo headed in his second goal of the season after 67 minutes, and it looked like they'd be heading for only their second win. But Trinidadian forward Shahdon Winchester scored a brilliant first league goal for Jaro with thirteen minutes left (Jesse Joronen won't enjoy seeing it again), and Hendrik Helmke scored the winner in injury time with a superb free kick.

Jaro sit ninth after their win, but only four points behind the leaders. Lahti have only five points from seven games, and this is likely to change to four. They're repeating their early season form of 2012, and the lack of goals is worrying. Their close season recruitment seemed to miss one key area.

I'm having trouble embedding the highlights of the game, but you can watch them by clicking here, which will take you to the ESS (Etelä-Suomen Sanomat) website. The Jaro goals are well worth watching.

RoPS 1-0 Inter

RoPS got back to winning ways in the league with a tight match against Inter, who had won the last six meetings between the two clubs. There was a minute's silence in memory of former KuPS (and Manchester United) player Brian Greenhoff, who died on Wednesday.

In memory of former England international Brian Greenhoff (photo via FC Inter)

The key moment of the game took place on 28 minutes - Babacar Diallo brought down Aleksandr Kokko in the area, received a red card, while Kokko dusted himself down to score the only goal of the match.

RoPS sit tenth with ten points (however they're due an extra 2 points for the Lahti match), while Inter are sixth, with eleven points.

Highlights of RoPS 1-0 Inter

JJK 0-0 KuPS

The live Urho match really wasn't worth paying for... This was billed as the Respect match, but that was the highlight. Both teams had injury problems, but had progressed in their Suomen Cup quarter-finals, and this will be the semi-final in August.

A rare chance for Wusu

This dress rehearsal saw several goalmouth scrambles and half chances, and while KuPS keeper Hilander made the more crucial saves, there was little chance of a goal. Ninety minutes passed, and ended without a score.

JJK remain bottom with three points from seven games, while KuPS sit fifth with eleven points from eight matches.

Highlights of JJK 0-0 KuPS

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I'll be adding further highlights as they become available.