Veikkausliiga week 4 - KuPS lose (again), return of the (goal) king

All twelve Veikkausliiga clubs were in action on Sunday, with the six matches kicking off at the same time. But there was no end of season feel, things have only just begun... So here are the games, broken down individually. I'm still playing about with the format - feedback welcome.

FC Lahti 1-0 KuPS

Lahti made a shock announcement on Friday evening, with the loan signing of Fulham's U21 goalkeeper Jesse Joronen. Jesse will be at Lahti for three months, and it can only be a good thing for all parties that he'll finally be getting some regular senior football. His spell with the Finland squad in Gijon will only have whetted the appetite.

 Dawda Bah is surrounded (photo via Katja Luoma/ESS)

So his debut match was against KuPS, who've already struggled so far in 2013. Chants of "Pekonen Out" were heard at their home defeat to IFK Mariehamn last week, but only ten days after the same fixture in the cup yielded a 1-2 win to the visitors, it was all change.

Joronen (right) happy after the game (photo via FC Lahti on Twitter)

It was a solitary goal from Jussi Länsitalo that won it for Lahti, revenge for the Suomen Cup win for KuPS ten days earlier. He had been (unwittingly) the villain, he was suspended when he came off the bench at RoPS, costing Lahti two points as their 1-1 draw became a 3-0 defeat. He beat the offside trap, and when one-on-one with the keeper, calmly slotted it into the far corner.

KuPS did create chances, and Joronen did well on his debut. National team coach Mixu Paatelainen was happy with the move, and it'll be interesting tp see what happens come August, when the English Premier League resumes.

The story is KuPS being in danger, Esa Pekonen's job is under threat, and one point from four games is relegation form. Omar Colley was suspended, Dawda Bah has done little. KuPS and Honka (see below) will be fighting for the wooden spoon if this continues.

Highlights of Lahti 1-0 KuPS

IFK Mariehamn 1-2 FC Inter

We've made plenty of noise about Inter's shoddy start to 2013, a rotten Liigacup followed by defeat to MYPA. But last year's runners-up have shown signs of life - a hard fought home victory over Jaro was followed by a midweek recovery against the champions (0-2 at half time, ended 2-2). But this was another challenge, a trip to an IFK Mariehamn team who had started surprisingly well, inspired by the returning Petteri Forsell.

Babacar Diallo standing tall (photo via Peter Eriksson)

Mariehamn went through the whole of 2012 without a home defeat, but have now opened their home account for 2013 with a draw (to JJK) and a defeat. Inter took the lead on the half hour through Frenchman Guy Gnabouyou's first goal of the season. Going into the half time break ahead, Inter had hopes - but it was the on-loan Forsell who broughty parity. An equalising goal, his third league goal of the season, gave Mariehamn a fighting chance of saving their home record.

As we mentioned in the review of Inter 2-2 HJK, 2012's league top scorer Irakli Sirbiladze has looked a shadow of his former self, characterised by a shocking miss at MYPA. But he discovered his scoring touch when needed, and he scored an 89th minute winner which took the points back to Turku. Inter are slowly coming back into form, and sit on seven points (three behind HJK).

Meanwhile the Islanders also sit on seven, but this goes down as an opportunity lost. They appear to be relying heavily on Forsell, who returns to Turkey in August. Robin Eriksson left the club in the week, a bold move which clearly didn't work.

Highlights of IFK Mariehamn 1-2 FC Inter

FF Jaro 2-3 HJK

The weekend's televised match (on Urho so I could actually watch it) provided the most goals, including the goal of the season so far. HJK again paired Mikael Forssell with Joel Pohjanpalo, while Demba Savage also returned to the starting XI. Jaro had made several chances at Inter but came away with nothing, and their return to their home stadium unfortunately saw a familiar pattern.

 Jonke challenges (photo via KP24.fi)

Jaro made plenty of chances, and an unusually shaky Ville Wallen didn't inspire much confidence. Banner and Jonke missed decent chances, before Pohjanpalo flicked on a Sumusalo cross into the path of an unmarked Savage, who scored his second goal of the season with just over half an hour gone.

Before half-time, Jaro's Henrik Helmke scored an absolute blinder - Wallen pushing a shot out of the area, but Helmke struck it first time from 22 metres out, the outside of his right boot sending the ball into the top corner of the net. Woof, and 1-1 at half-time. But it didn't take long for HJK to re-take the lead, Erfan Zeneli scoring his third goal in three games from a heavily deflected free kick (47mins), then Savage got his second with 74 played, unmarked again after good work by Zeneli.

With two minutes remaining, Kullström made it interesting by scoring after a Jaro corner, but the champions saw it out. Five goals, six yellow cards, and HJK move clear at the top. Jaro have made plenty of chances in their games against HJK and Inter, but have one win in three games and sit ninth. HJK have ten points from their four matches, and have a three point lead already.

   
Highlights of Jaro 2-3 HJK

VPS 3-1 RoPS

RoPS finally faced an away game after three consecutive home matches, and the long trip from Rovaniemi to Vaasa led to them coming away with nothing, despite an early lead. Trinidadian Ataullah Guerra scored his first league goal in Finland after just seven minutes, a testament to his mental strength after a tough time at home. It was a stunning goal as well, shrugging off a couple of challenges, then shooting into the top corner from 25 metres out.

Second placed VPS lead the way (photo via Lapin Kansa)

But VPS continued their promising start to the season. One goal in two games put the spotlight on the forwards. Step forward Tomi Ameobi, brother of Newcastle United's Shola and Sammy, to score after 17 minutes by heading in a Seabrook cross. But it was Tony Björk who saw VPS over the line - two second half goals (the second a penalty after a hefty foul in the box) secured the three points, and the unlikely position of second, three points behind HJK with a game in hand. 

Highlights of VPS 3-1 RoPS

TPS 1-0 JJK

TPS finally returned home to the Veritas Stadium, after playing their opening two home games on municipal artificial pitches. Nearly 4000 people turned out to greet them, in the second highest attendance of the year so far.

The confidence came from a 1-0 win, courtesy of a penalty by Wayne Brown, his first goal since returning to the club. A nasty looking injury caused midfielder Duarte Tammilehto to be stretchered off, but he made his own way home... TPS improving (and have confirmed Roope Riski's signing for the season), while JJK haven't made the start they'd like.

Tammilehto hobbles away (image via IltaSanomat)

Highlights of TPS 1-0 JJK

MYPA 1-0 FC Honka

Honka's wretched start to 2013 continued at MYPA. Financial problems blighted the club over winter, with the loss of two key players. Despite a Suomen Cup in the trophy cabinet, and a Europa League place, they hadn't scored in any of their first three matches, and only earned a point at VPS in a proper bore draw.

Eighty minutes passed before MYPA's Pekka Sihvola popped up with the winner, after good skill and a low cross by Soiri. Prior to that, Honka's Jussi Vasara had a chance to give the visitors a lead, but his effort was saved at the second attempt by MYPA keeper Pyhäranta.

Honka are missing the injured Tim Väyrynen badly, and are getting little creativity elsewhere. Youness Rahimi had a trial with PSV Eindhoven this week, so it appears the vultures are circling (Väyrynen almost moved to Dutch club Heracles as well).

Highlights of MYPA 1-0 Honka

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.