This season's Suomen cup reaches it's climax this weekend with the match between Honka of Espoo and KuPS of Kuopio. Both teams have tasted recent defeat in finals, and have a chance to write their names in the history books. KuPS have won the Suomen Cup twice in their history, most recently in 1989; yet Honka have never won the trophy.
The clash between eighth and tenth place in the league this weekend represents their only chances of playing continental football - KuPS reaching last year's final provided them with this season's surprising run to the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
For Honka, this has been a wait of four months since their penalty shootout win over holders HJK at the end of many. They were runners-up in 2007 and 2008, losing on penalties to Tampere (07) and after extra-time to HJK (08), are they due some success? As the higher-placed team in the league, they may think that they are the slight favourite, and at the time of writing, they are with the UK based bookmakers.
Honka after their semi-final win
But will they be able to pull it off? KuPS have been poor domestically this season, yet seem to be able to win one-off games, including Turkish side Bursaspor in Europe. Despite losing the final last year to the 'home' team, they've returned again, and despite their slight underdog status, they're no pushover. Unfortunately they spent midweek getting used to the Sonera turf losing 4-1 to HJK... Maybe they're lulling Honka into a false sense of security?
KuPS in their 1-0 win over Bursaspor - this is their chance for a repeat
This is a big game for both sides, and a chance for silverware and a €25,000 payday (plus the associated money for competing in Europe in 2013). Glory is within touching distance, and next season we could be using a photo such as this...
In the previous review of action, we covered the possibility of a four-horse race for the Finnish title. Well this midweek, we've seen the first change of leadership in the title race in over a month, and it was the 2011 champions who have got their noses in front, with five matches remaining.
The midweek visitors to Helsinki were KuPS, fresh from a weekend win over MYPA, and with an eye on their weekend Cup Final against Honka, conveniently in the same stadium. HJK started the day two points behind Inter Turku, having drawn 1-1 with them on Sunday. HJK made seven changes to the starting line-up, and the changes were evident in the final score.
Demba Savage opened the scoring in the 16th minute after Rasmus Schüller took advantage of lazy KuPS defending. From then on, it was the turn of Akseli Pelvas to take the stage. Pelvas hadn't scored since the 3-3 draw with VPS in early August, but here he scored three times - a goals after 27, 46 and a 90th minute penalty to take his league total for the season to eight goals. An 88th minute goal from Dudu won't have done much to ease KuPS. The 4-1 result leaves them in tenth place, but other results may have them looking nervously. We'll cover the top of the table later...
Akseli Pelvas celebrates his third goal
Highlights of HJK 4-1 KuPS
Meanwhile, at the bottom... The momentum has shifted hugely - bottom club Jaro, who have been bottom of the table for most of the season, entertained the other cup finalists Honka. But Jaro managed their first win in nine games - a first half goal from Papa Niang proved the winner. Jaro's two recent signings Sherif Ashraf and former Liverpool youth captain Steven Irwin have settled in well, Jaro have yet to lose with them in the team. Honka are left in eighth place, with a lot of work left to do if they're to finish in the top half of the table, and earn the extra home match next season.
Highlights of Jaro 1-0 Honka
The big losers of Jaro's win were Haka. They were away to MYPA, and knew that with KuPS' victory at the weekend, points were vital. Haka were without a victory under new coach Juha Malinen, who was appointed in the wake of the 9-2 defeat to TPS. Haka were holding on until the 82nd minute, when MYPA substitute Sasha Anttilainen earned three deserved points. Haka are now bottom of the table on 24 points, two points behind Jaro, and five behind KuPS. Haka haven't won since the last meeting with MYPA in mid-July, and have the hardest run-in of the three with home matches against HJK and Inter to come. It doesn't look good, but the next five games could yet provide more surprise.
The title outsider IFK Mariehamn were at home to Lahti, and perhaps the home fans thought they may keep pace with the leaders after Aleksei Kangaskolkka opened the scoring after barely 20 seconds. But Lahti came back fighting, showing the spirit that had won them their last four league games, and goals from captain Mikko Hauhia and Ariel Ngueukam gave them a half-time lead. But a 70th minute goal from Bosnian Ermin Gadžo levelled the match at 2-2. Ngueukam was sent off for a second booking, and the match finished 2-2. Lahti's late season form continues to keep them in the top half of the table, albeit with a negative goal difference.
Ngueukam challenges Gadžo
Highlights of IFKM 2-2 Lahti
The pre-match leaders Inter faced another away game in Jyväskylä, after their hard fought draw against HJK at the weekend. JJK have been hovering in the bottom half of the table for most of the season, and have been doing just enough to keep ahead of the relegation battle. Inter dominated as expected, Mika Ojala with the best chance. But a 0-0 draw was the outcome, and Inter coach Job Dragtsma could not hide his disappointment at the end that they could not score.
The final match was TPS v VPS in Turku. TPS needed to win to keep up with HJK and Inter, while VPS had lost three of the previous four, and were falling behind in their bid to finish in the top half. The first half was goalless, but the match was decided by Dennis Okaru in the 66th minute, a near-post finish after a clever pass by substitute Mikko Hyyrynen. Okaru's 7th league goal of the season was enough, and left TPS just a point behind HJK and Inter. VPS are currently seventh, on 39 points with a goal difference of +1.
Goalscorer Dennis Okaru
Highlights of TPS 1-0 VPS
That pretty much leaves the title race as below:
HJK P28 Pts 51 GD +22
Inter P28 Pts 51 GD +19
TPS P28 Pts 50 GD +24
IFK P28 Pts 46 GD +8
TPS's goal difference, bloated by the nine goals scored against Haka, is the superior, but they still have a match against Inter, although a final day match at home to Jaro may give them a clear idea of what they'll need to do, if they are still competing.
HJK have three away games, but no matches against the rest of the top five. But they need to ensure they keep an eye on the goal difference in case of any slip ups.
Inter still have tricky fixtures in TPS and Mariehamn, a home game with KuPS, and have to travel to Haka and Honka.
Five games left, five more weeks of twists and turns.
