Veikkausliiga final day highlights
In the end, everything went as expected. HJK got the point they needed to secure their 22nd title, despite Jaro taking the lead on eight minutes after Tillman Grove swept the ball home following a cross from the left. HJK’s cautious outlook has been criticised this season, but a draw was all they needed from Jaro and a draw was what they got when Dawda Bah picked up the ball following confusion in the Jaro defence and slotted past Jaro keeper Vitali Teles.
The HJK coach, always a dignified and courteous presence even when under intense pressure, resisted the temptation to take pot shots at the fans and journalists who had spent most of the season discussing who should replace him. Surely he wanted to tell the fans how wrong they were to demand his departure?
“I don’t think the fans wanted that, in the end,” a relieved Muurinen told Aamulehti after the game. “You can’t please everyone, you have to accept that and you have to get used to the new way of thinking in the 21st century.”
The 21st century is a hard place for nice guys like Muurinen. A teetotaller who has often been criticised for his weak authority, a cautious tactical outlook and his lack of charisma, he often seems out of place in modern football, but his strong relationship with HJK owner Olli-Pekka Lyytikainen could yet see him granted a contract extension.
“Well, I’ll drink a couple of cokes with Antti, take a sauna and come back to the issue after a couple of days,” the magazine magnate said.
In Turku, Tepsi’s season ended in crushing disappointment. After a 15 game unbeaten run was broken by FF Jaro on September 20, the Turku side won two games against relegation candidates KuPS and RoPS, but in their last two matches they could only draw against MyPa and Espoon Honka. Yesterday’s goalless draw with Mika Lehkosuo’s men ensured that TPS finished only third, enough for a place in Europe, but much less than they hoped for after that tremendous mid-season run.
“I’m a little bit happy and disappointed,” TPS loanee Wayne Brown sighed. “It’s great to finish third, and it’s great for the club that they’ve got a place in Europe, but on the other hand we could have won the league. We messed up in two really important games, away against Jaro and Mypa, and that’s what’s cost us the championship.”
Rautiainen’s hyperactive touchline style will be present in next season’s Veikkausliiga after he signed a contract extension earlier in the season, a boon for everyone who wants to hear his entertaining press conferences.
Honka once again finished second, a decent performance after a disappointing start to the season.
“In out last four seasons we’ve finished fourth, fourth, second and second. It’s not difficult to predict where we’ll finish next year,” Lehkosuo ventured after seeing his side pip Tepsi to the runners-up spot.
At the bottom of the league, JJK secured a 2-2 draw that gives them a play-off against Kokkolan Pallo Veikot to play in next year’s Veikkausliiga. RoPS beat KuPS 1-0 under new coach Zeddy Saileti, but that was irrelevant after JJK’s result, and they go straight down, to be replaced by Ykkönen winners AC Oulu.
Three players retired yesterday – Saku Puhakainen, Toni Huttunen and probably the greatest player in the history of the Finnish League, Valeri Popovitch. NFN doffs it’s proverbial cap to all three for the joy they’ve provided down the years. Popovitch at least will be player-manager at Ilves next season, and it will be a treat to see the majestic Russian up against Kakkonen defences. Jari Litmanen’s intentions are shrouded in mystery, for the time being at least.
October 18th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Pasi never signed an extension, his contract does not have an expiry date. In other words, he stays at TPS until Pasi, the club or both decide to part ways.
I was surprised by Honka’s cautious approach. Apparently Lehkosuo thought that Jaro won’t score another goal and decided to hold on to the runner-up spot instead. That provoked a nasty comment from Casagrande, which I don’t understand either.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Honka approach to the match was realistic, not very romantic. I would not say that they killed the game though and at least half the reason for why it looked so cautious was that TPS played well.
Casagrande and his troops always had a chance to take some more risks themselves and attack like madmen but I did not see that happen, and if I were Casagrande I would keep my piehole tight shut.
As a well-educated engineer Lehkosuo had probably been able to estimate himself that it would be better to take the runner-up spot by a solid team performance and avoiding any additional risk than going for a title for which they had only about a 10 % chance even if they won at Turku.
It was not fireworks and carnival, more like a mission accomplished.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:53 am
10% chance? If Jaro would have scored one goal (and reportedly they were close indeed) and Honka would have spent their time defending their runner-up spot, they would have been on the receiving end of harsh criticism. Especially if TPS would have capitalised on one of their half-chances.
Being more ambitious wouldn’t have been a risk at all. TPS played a more attacking game, but were careful at the back at the same time. I have very little appreciation for Casagrande’s bitter comments, but he has a point. It’s a bit sad that a team renowned for attacking, entertaining football starts playing it safe when they can still win the title.
Of course, TPS didn’t deserve a win either as they were not able to create many chances themselves. But as I said, a Jaro goal in Helsinki would have had Honka grieving over what could have been. Their decision to park the bus in the closing stages demonstrates a lack of ambition in the critical moments, which I find bemusing. After all 2nd or 3rd doesn’t make much difference, especially if the top spot is attainable.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Agree, and then I do not. 10 % was a realistic figure for Jaro chances of winning the match before the game, and when asked Lehkosuo pointed out that if there were any delightful news from Finnair Stadium they would had taken more risks.
Personally I would hade taken the more adventurous road, but I can fully understand why it went the way it did.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
“Three players retired yesterday – Saku Puhakainen, Toni Huttunen and probably the greatest player in the history of the Finnish League, Valeri Popovitch.”
You forgot Zeddy Saileti. This is unforgivable.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Puntteri, perhaps the stupidest thing a coach can do in a situation like that is parking the bus because he happens to be of the opinion that Jaro cannot score one goal against HJK. The “delightful news” could have been announced after Honka’s game was already over. Just imagine if TPS had somehow scored a fluke and Jaro would have scored in injury time! The scenario seems far-fetched, but it could have happened. Honka would have damned themselves to hell for being so cautious and having to watch their opponents celebrate the title as a result.
But that’s not really the main issue to me. I just hated to see Mika Lehkosuo of all coaches do that in the critical moments. I, just like many other people, have learned to respect him as an advocate of entertaining, attacking-minded, short-passing football, but it seems he’s ready to ditch his fine principles when things get heated. They had so little to lose and so much to win.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:59 am
What can i say Juha, I am not Lehkosuo.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Sorry anon. But then Zeddy is in better shape than the others, and could still play in Ykkönen next year in an emergency…
October 20th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
When will the Fair Play results be known? Just curious if VPS will get it so they can play in the Europa League next year.