Veikkausliiga week 26 - HJK thump Jaro, Honka blank

A full weekend of fixtures, and it looks more and more like confirming the top and bottom of the table. Meanwhile, the group of teams between third and eleventh are still just as close... A quick summary.

Jaro 1-5 HJK

Since beating Honka a fortnight ago, HJK's task was clear - win their remaining games, they win the title. They kicked off on a wet Sunday at the same time as Honka, but they went about their business in style, taking four minutes to open the scoring - Mikael Forssell with his first goal in seven league games, but he then slammed a 22nd minute penalty against the post... They eventually doubled the lead before the break, Zeneli finding space at the edge of the box and firing in the bottom corner.

Forssell challenging Jaro keeper Öst

The second half had barely started when Nikolai Alho lashed in a third goal after Jaro threw away possession. Jaro lost Funicello for a second yellow after a wild challenge on 53 minutes, then Sakari Mattila made it 0-4 on 58'. Forssell scored his second on 76', meeting a cross for his eighth goal of the season. An own goal with ten minutes left made it 1-5, but it was a comprehensive win.

Highlights of Jaro 1-5 HJK

HJK return to the top of the table, with 51 points from 25 matches (their game in hand is against TPS later in the month). Jaro are sixth, with 34 points from 26 games.

Lahti 2-0 KuPS

Friday's game was a feisty affair, but was settled by two goals inside twenty minutes. The first was a slight blooper, Mäkitalo slipped while taking a corner in the 11th minute, but the ball found it's way to Pyry Kärkkäinen who finished nicely. Six minutes later, Tommi Kari met a cross in front of the goal, and Mika Hilander could only push it back out via the bar, and a goal given.

After that, a few yellow cards were brandished, and league top scorer Rafael saw red for an elbow in the second half. There were some tasty challenges, but Lahti saw the game out and it ended 2-0.

Highlights of Lahti 2-0 KuPS

Lahti, having spent nearly the whole season in the bottom two, go up to seventh, with 33 points from 26 matches. KuPS drop to 10th, with 31 points from 26 games.

TPS 2-2 JJK

Saturday's match was crucial for both sides, but the result did little to help either. Hilska gave JJK the lead after 30', but TPS equalised just 3 minutes later with a goal from Lehtonen. In the second half, Eero Markkanen said farewell (he signed on loan for HJK later) with another goal on 50', but Juho Lähde salvaged a point on 69'.

Highlights of TPS 2-2 JJK

TPS are eighth in the table, with 32 points from 25 matches. JJK remain bottom, 20 points from 26 games, ten points from safety with seven games left.

MYPA 0-0 Honka

No goals. One red card (MYPA's Ramadingaye was sent off for a second yellow in the last minute). Honka lose ground. Enjoy!

Highlights of MYPA 0-0 Honka

MYPA are third in the table, with 37 points from 26 games. Honka drop to second, with 50 from 26.

VPS 1-1 RoPS

With both teams in the huddle for the race for third, but another draw didn't help either. The goals didn't come until late, but the first was special - Jamaican midfielder Akeem Priestly picked up the ball on the halfway line and fired in from 25 yards out (82mins). A rare away win was on the cards, but VPS equalised on 86mins, Scotsman Grant Kerr with a crucial goal to save a point.

Highlights of VPS 1-1 RoPS

VPS are fourth in the table, with 37 points from 26 games. RoPS are 9th, with 32 points from their 26 matches.

IFK Mariehamn 1-1 Inter

Inter opened the scoring through Irakli Sirbiladze (65mins), his eighth of the season, but a curling 87th minute equaliser from Alonzo Adlam secured a point for Mariehamn. I don't think I've written more than a paragraph about any Inter match this season.

Highlights of IFK Mariehamn 1-1 Inter

IFK Mariehamn are fifth, with 36 points from 26 matches. Inter are eleventh, with 30 points from 26 games.

Veikkausliiga week 25 - Rafael on target again

A full round of fixtures this weekend, but plenty still to play for with eight sets of fixtures remaining. The gap between second and third is now pretty huge, while relegation for one team is now surely a formality...

JJK 2-3 Lahti

Was this the match that condemned JJK to relegation? If so, it also showed the improvement Lahti have made under Juha Malinen as they tore into a 0-3 lead inside half an hour, all three goals in nine minutes. Rafael (19'), Hietanen (25') and a Rafael penalty (28') gave the hosts a huge mountain to climb.

Lahti celebrate their second goal (photo via KSML)

Mikko Manninen scored after 31mins, and a 78th minute Eero Markkanen goal made the end interesting, but they'd left it too late. Rafael jumped to second in the all time Veikkausliiga scoring list with 115, and clear at the top of this season's list with 11 goals. Lahti have won 8 of their last 13 league matches, while JJK have two league wins in 13.

Highlights are available here, via the KSML website.

JJK are now ten points adrift of 11th placed Inter, with 19 points from 25 matches. Lahti are tenth, with thirty points from 25 games - only six points behind third...

Honka 3-0 VPS

Meanwhile at the top... Leaders Honka may have expected a tougher game against the team in third place - but VPS had only won two matches in nine games, and barely threatened Honka, despite having Steven Morrissey in the starting line-up.

No panic on the pitch at Tapiola due to Morrissey (photo via Aleksi Tuomola)

Honka's opener came from Jussi Vasara just before half-time (43'), after some sustained pressure on the VPS goal. But they left it late to add more goals, a deflected effort from Porokara (85') and an injury time penalty from Äijälä.

Highlights of Honka 3-0 VPS

Honka still lead the championship, with 49 points from 25 games, one point ahead of HJK (who have a game in hand). VPS have 36 points from 25 matches, and are in third place.

KuPS 3-2 IFK Mariehamn

Both teams had been active in the transfer market recently, and KuPS edged a cracker. One-time Finnish international Juha Hakola scored from a tight angle nine minutes in (via a hefty deflection from Patrick Byskata), giving KuPS the lead, before Mariehamn new boys Solignac and Ibrahim made it 1-2 to Mariehamn. An Ilja Venäläinen penalty (67') and a Dudu winner (70') won the match for KuPS. Mariehamn's new English defender Darren Purse received a straight red card in injury time for a hefty challenge, and a bit of elbow.

Ibrahim in action

Highlights of KuPS 3-2 IFK Mariehamn

KuPS are seventh in the league, with 31 points from 25 games. IFK Mariehamn are fourth, with 35 points from 25 matches.

HJK 2-1 MYPA

HJK kept up the pressure on Honka with a hard-fought win over MYPA. HJK were made to fight hard for the three points, and opened the scoring through a Mattila penalty on 42mins, after Zeneli had been fouled. Anttilainen equalised on the hour, from an acute angle. Rasmus Schüller scored the winner on 76mins, shooting from the edge of the box.

Highlights of HJK 2-1 MYPA

HJK remain second, 48 points from 24 games, one game in hand over Honka. MYPA are sixth, with 33 points from 24 games - they play TPS on Wednesday.

RoPS 1-1 TPS

A TPS squad struggling with injuries made the long trip north, and came away with a point. Petteri Pennanen's penalty after 33 mins gave TPS the lead, but Aleksandr Kokko's sixth goal of the season before half time saved a point.

Kokko celebrates his equaliser

Highlights of RoPS 1-1 TPS

RoPS are ninth, 31 points from 25 games. TPS are eighth, with 31 points from 23 games, they play MYPA on Wednesday.

Inter 1-0 Jaro

Monday night's game saw struggling Inter claim a rare win over a Jaro side who were looking to steal a march in the race for third. Jaro keeper Jesse Ost had his usual sterling performance in goal, but was assisted by the wayward shooting of Inter forward Guy Gnabouyou.

Guy prepared to misfire again

Inter waited until the 85th minute before breaking the deadlock - substitute Irakli Sirbiladze benefitted from some insane Jaro defending, and slotting home to seal three valuable points. Jaro meanwhile now have no win in five.

Highlights of Inter 1-0 Jaro

Inter remain eleventh, with 29 points from 25 games - ten points clear of bottom club JJK. Jaro are fifth, with 34 points from 25 matches.