Veikkausliiga week 14 - Lahti off the bottom

Here's a quick review of Wednesday's Veikkausliiga matches, before the break for Juhannus (midsummer).

Lahti 2-1 JJK

The meeting between 12th and 11th in a twelve-team division is often a hard sell, but the narrative here was a bit easier to follow. JJK had won on Sunday to create a three point gap. Lahti wore the colours of FC Reipas in a one-off. They dropped on-loan Fulham keeper Jesse Joronen.

JJK took a ninth minute lead through Dutch defender Jordy van Gelderen, and it looked like the party was doomed. But Lahti's Brazilian strikers saved the day - Vini Dantas equalised on 73mins, before substitute Rafael won it with four minutes to go.

Lahti/Reipas/Barnet celebrate

Highlights of the match are available here, via ESS.fi.

The result means Lahti go 11th, on goal difference, overtaking JJK. They have nine points from 13 games, and a GD of -11. JJK also have nine points from thirteen, with a GD of -13.

MYPA 2-4 HJK

HJK returned to the top of the table on their 106th birthday, with the best tonic for their defeat at Honka. MYPA had the joint-best defence in the league, so scoring four was a good result.

Zeneli scored goal four

HJK scored first through a clever Teemu Tainio header, before Xhevdet Gela equalised and it was 1-1 at half-time. A solo wonder goal from Demba Savage gave HJK the lead just after the break, before Moren and Zeneli made it 1-4. A late consolation from Salmikivi made the final score 2-4.

HJK return to the top, 26 points from 14 games, one point ahead of VPS. MYPA drop to sixth, with 20 points from 13 games.

Highlights of MYPA 2-4 HJK

IFK Mariehamn 4-2 KuPS

An early goal for the hosts set the tone here, and the action didn't finish until injury time. Kris Bright opened the scoring on four minutes, before Joel Vartiainen equalised ten minutes later. Bright bagged a smart second before half time, but Ats Purje again levelled with thirteen minutes to go.

But goals from Robin Östlind, and Dever Orgill's seventh of the season won it for Mariehamn. KuPS keeper Mika Hilander was sent off in the dying seconds for handling outside the box, and was replaced in goal by Tero Taipale for the end of the game.

Highlights of IFK Mariehamn 4-2 KuPS

Mariehamn's inconsistent season aside, they're up to fifth place with 21 points from 14 games. KuPS are seventh with 18 points from 14 matches.

VPS 1-1 Honka

An unlikely match between third and first ended in stalemate in Vaasa. A sixteenth minute goal from Tim Väyrynen gave the hosts the lead with his third goal in five games.

But it was VPS captain Sebastian Strandvall who saved a point with a tremendous goal, two minutes from the end. A one-two with Parikka followed by a smart finish keeps VPS in the chase.

Highlights of Honka 1-1 VPS

Honka are in third place, with 24 points from 14 games. VPS drop to second (as a result of HJK's win), with 25 points from 13 games.

TPS 2-1 RoPS

TPS are slowly moving up the table, creeping up on the leaders. A home win over seasoned bad travellers RoPS helped. Poor defending allowed Mikko Hyyrynen's first goal of the season to give the hosts the lead just after half an hour. Roope Riski doubled the lead on 55mins, going past the keeper and slotting in from a narrow angle.

Mika Lahtinen's headed goal started a RoPS wave of attacks after 73 minutes, but TPS held firm and move onwards and upwards.

Highlights of TPS 2-1 RoPS

TPS are now fourth in the Veikkausliiga, with 23 points from 13 games - just three off HJK with a game in hand. RoPS are now tenth, but have a seven point cushion over the bottom two.

Jaro 0-0 Inter

Inter failed to score for the fourth match in a row. Jaro pootle along, but again had plenty of chances. Inter forward Irakli Sirbiladze, who had been substituted six minutes before the break, was given a straight red card after over-doing the dissent towards the referee. Reports indicate that he threatened to kill the referee... He gets a two-game ban for the red, and the Finnish FA will investigate.

Highlights of Jaro 0-0 Inter

Jaro are eighth, with 18 points from 13 games. Inter go to ninth, with seventeen from 14 games.

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The next round of fixtures are played on Monday 24th June, as the players get a rare break for the weekend. The fixtures are:

JJK v TPS

RoPS v VPS

HJK v Jaro

Inter v IFK Mariehamn

KuPS v Lahti

Honka v MYPA

Games kick off at 1630 BST