Veikkausliiga week 28 - VPS going for bronze

Hot on the heels of the last round, comes a Monday with all twelve teams in action. There were plenty of goals, and while nothing changed at the top or bottom, the middle moved around a little bit...

VPS 2-1 KuPS

With the top two so far ahead, nine other sides had aspirations of coming third - even second-bottom Inter were only ten points away with six matches left. VPS had started the season well, but have struggled for goals lately - and they won this game the hard way against KuPS.

VPS head the race for third (photo via Mikael Nybacka)

KuPS had struggled too this season, but Ilja Venäläinen's eleventh goal of the season with just two minutes gone looked promising. They held the lead for an hour, before Jordan Seabrook flicked in an equaliser (63'), before captain Sebastian Strandvall missed a birthday penalty. It was substitute Steven Morrissey who sealed the points with an 84th minute goal, and took VPS clear in the race for third, with Europa League football the prize.

Highlights of VPS 2-1 KuPS

 

VPS sit third in the table, with 43 points from 28 matches. KuPS remain tenth, with 32 points from 28 games.

Lahti 0-2 HJK

After all the build-up, including bus stop posters and all sorts, HJK won a crucial three points with two goals from Robin Lod (who has six for the season, including his hat-trick against Honka). They even managed to miss a penalty at 0-0, the normally reliable Zeneli hit a tame one straight at the keeper's legs. Lod's goals came on 44 and 71 minutes. Lahti's recent form is still impressive, and haven't drawn since June... That they were genuine relegation contenders for part of the season shows their rise, while HJK's form since the Champions League debacle has been near faultless, unbeaten in 14 league games and they've won the last five.

Highlights of Lahti 0-2 HJK

Lahti are sixth in the table, 36 points from 28 games. HJK are top, with 57 points from 27 matches - three clear of Honka with a game in hand, which is against TPS next week.

Jaro 1-3 Honka

Honka had drawn their last two matches 0-0, but their youngsters provided a spark in Pietarsaari. 20-year-old Kevin Mombilo carried on his promising form with the opening goal (20'), before Tim Väyrynen's tenth goal of the season (42') ensured a half-time lead of 2-0. A superb solo goal from Moshtagh Yaghoubi (61') made it 3-0, before Mathias Kullström pulled one back (77'), but it wasn't enough to halt Jaro's run of eight games without a win. There were some handbags after the final whistle, but nothing major.

Highlights of Jaro 1-3 Honka

Jaro are seventh, with 34 points from 28 games. Honka remain second, 54 points from 28 games (one game more than HJK, three points behind).

IFK Mariehamn 3-2 MYPA

The game had been delayed by half an hour after the officials were delayed... They were there to give a penalty to Mariehamn, converted by Byskata (16'), before goals from Solignac (35') and Bernardo (81') looked like a smooth ride was in store. But the foot came off the gas, and MYPA made it nervous after Anttilainen (84') and Soiri (89')... But it ended 3-2, a decent recovery for Mariehamn after last week's drubbing.

Highlights of IFK Mariehamn 3-2 MYPA

IFK Mariehamn are fifth in the table, 39 points from 28 games. MYPA are fourth, with 40 points from 28 matches.

RoPS 1-1 JJK

JJK picked up a point after the journey to Rovaniemi, but it did little to help their struggle against relegation. Mika Lahtinen scored for RoPS after 29 minutes, before Antto Hilska equalised (with his second goal in two games) after 74 minutes. RoPS are now winless in five, JJK haven't won any league games in ten.

No highlights yet.

RoPS are ninth, 34 points from 28 games. JJK are twelvth, with 21 points from 28 games - ten behind Inter with five matches left.

TPS 1-1 Inter

TPS opened the scoring in the Turku derby after just a minute (Roope Riski). But a late header from Guy Gnabouyou (84') earned a point for Inter, to keep the gap to JJK at ten points. TPS are winless in five games, and have two games against HJK to come. Inter meanwhile have two wins in nineteen.

Highlights of TPS 1-1 Inter

TPS are eighth, with 34 points from 27 games. Inter are eleventh, with 31 points from 28 matches.

Veikkausliiga week 27 - HJK extend lead

They don't wait long after international breaks in Finland - Thursday's games kicked off less than 48 hours after the Georgia v Finland match on Tuesday. A full round on Thursday/Friday will also be followed by a full round on Monday... The debate about fixture congestion and league structure will rage on.

HJK 6-1 IFK Mariehamn

After scoring five goals in their previous league match at Jaro, HJK stepped it up with six against Mariehamn (they've now scored 21 goals against them in 5 league and cup matches this year). A masterful performance from Mikael Forssell capped off a day that saw HJK extend their lead at the top to three points, with a game in hand.

HJK's ginger Don Draper in form

It was Erfan Zeneli who opened the scoring (13'), curling into the far corner from the edge of the area. A cute backheel from Forssell then set up Sorsa (27'), before Miklu was brought down in the box and Zeneli took the penalty (32') and the half time score was 3-0. The second half was five minutes old when Forssell was given an open goal to aim at, before he headed in his second (68'). He was replaced to a standing ovation by the debutant Eero Markkanen, before Mariehamn got a consolation through Bernardo Ribiero, although Ibrahim's shot had crossed the line already (80'). Demba Savage finished off the rout on 84mins and it ended 6-1 - but it could have been ten...

Highlights of HJK 6-1 IFK Mariehamn

HJK are top of the table, with 54 points from 26 games - three clear of Honka with a game in hand (to be played against TPS in two weeks). IFK Mariehamn are fifth, with 36 points from 27 games.

Honka 0-0 RoPS

Honka lost ground on the leaders with a 0-0 draw at home to RoPS, in front of a crowd of 2032 who paid what they wanted - we await figures of how much... Both teams had chances (including Honka having a couple ruled out for offside), but RoPS are now unbeaten in six away league games, having lost eight in a row before. Honka have had two goalless draws in a row, and seem to be running out of steam...

Highlights of Honka 0-0 RoPS

Honka are second in the table, with 51 points from 27 matches. RoPS are ninth, with 33 points from 27 games.

Inter 1-3 Lahti

Lahti had billed the return of Ariel 'Tuco' Ngueukam as something akin to Mannerheim, the famous General - his second debut had been delayed due to visa issues (this was his first start). He opened the scoring at Inter with 24 minutes gone, celebrating with a salute... Guy Gnabouyou equalised just after, then Vini Dantas restored Lahti's lead before the break, set up by another backheel. Pyry Kärkkäinen's second half goal sealed the win (68').

Highlights of Inter 1-3 Lahti

Inter are eleventh, with 30 points from 27 games, ten clear of JJK. Lahti are now sixth, 36 points from 27 games, behind Mariehamn on goals scored.

JJK 1-3 VPS

JJK are quickly running out of matches, and a home defeat to bronze-medal chasing VPS doesn't help. A goal at the end of the first half from Tomi Ameobi gave VPS the lead, and he'll struggle to score an easier goal, and I don't think he knew much about it. The second VPS goal meanwhile was a different beast, Steven Morrissey picking up the ball in his half, fighting off several defenders and scoring (63') - a great goal, his first since returning to Finland. JJK's Hilska scored after 79mins, but Morrissey scored again in the 86th minute to ensure another JJK loss.

VPS get ahead (photo via Jaana Kautto)

Highlights of the game can be seen here, via the KSML website.

JJK remain bottom of the table, with 20 points from 27 matches, ten points behind Inter and safety. VPS are fourth, on 40 points from 27 games, behind MYPA on goal difference.

KuPS 1-1 TPS

TPS needed an injury time equaliser to leave Kuopio with anything. Miikka Ilo scored for KuPS after 15 minutes, but TPS sub Mikko Hyyrynen scored in the 92nd minute to seal a point for TPS, who still have hopes for third place.

KuPS are tenth, with 32 points from 27 games. TPS are 8th, with 33 points from 26 matches.

MYPA 1-0 Jaro

MYPA coach Toni Korkeakunnas spent the international break sorting out becoming Lahti's next coach (for next season), but carried on the quest for Europe with a routine win over Jaro. Olajide Williams scored the only goal after just five minutes, from six yards out.

Highlights of MYPA 1-0 Jaro

MYPA are third in the table, with 40 points from 27 games. Jaro are down to seventh, with 34 points from 27 matches.