Nordic Football News

Inter took their third consecutive derby win in Veikkausliiga, beating TPS 2-0. The big difference to last year was that both teams were bad this time around. Inter had most of the ball possession, but that was pretty much useless, as they could only create one chance. It was enough though, as Timo Furuholm found the net to score his team’s second in the 75th minute. The goal was preceded by Inter’s first goal a minute earlier. While the goal was a beautiful long-range strike and a display of skill from Kennedy Nwanganga, it would hardly count as a chance. As predicted, the game was very even, but as Babatunde Wusu could not capitalise on what was TPS’ only chance, Inter took a deserved win.

I wonder why TPS head coach Pasi Rautiainen fielded both Simo Valakari and Chris Cleaver in the midfield yet again, as they are not very good at an expansive passing game. One of them should be benched, and a player more fluent with the ball such as Riku Riski should be employed to bring some balance.

The Turku derby might have been sub-standard, but the corresponding occasion in Pirkanmaa was utterly dreadful. It is perhaps fitting that Haka’s Mikko Innanen scored his 73rd minute winner bum after TamU goalkeeper Juha Soukiala let his posterior in. Tonight’s extra credit will go to TamU’s Aleksei Kangaskolkka, who chit-chatted two yellow cards to his name within a few seconds.

Elsewhere, Mika Lahtinen went down in history books when he scored JJK’s 84th minute equalizer when his team hosted RoPS. The goal was JJK’s first top flight goal ever. HJK and Honka drew with each side scoring once. MYPA and FC Lahti were another pair who could not find anything to separate them. The final score was 2-2, and Lahti’s Jukka Veltheim broke two shinbones.

By the way, be sure to check out the excellent Under-21 European Championships 2009 blog. The games will be played in Sweden in June, and Finland are involved. Veikkausliiga is perhaps the best way to see the players of the team in action. In contention for spots in the team are Jukka Lehtovaara, Sami Rähmönen and Kasper Hämäläinen (TPS), Mika Ojala, Joni Aho (Inter), Jussi Vasara (Honka), Tomi Petrescu (TamU) and Jarno Parikka (HJK) – to name just a few. Do have a look at these players while you have the chance, some of the players mentioned won’t enrich Finland’s domestic leagues for long.