FC Haka 1 HJK 2
MyPa 4 Tampere United 1
Inter Turku 1 FF Jaro 0
IFK Mariehman 3 KuPS 0
FC Lahti 4 RoPS 1
The all new Tehttaan kenttä is quite an experience. It was all a bit much for me, and I arrived too late to actually describe much of what went on, so for now the football should be the main focus. The ‘matchday experience’ was quite something though. Not quite sure what, but it was definitely something. There were 3,231 people there for starters, and that’s a very big crowd for Haka.
Thankfully, the football was well worthy of our attention. HJK’s dominance was near total, with 13 shots on goal and 8 wide of the target, and it is unclear whether Medo and Parikka’s attempts that hit the woodwork are counted as on or off target. Haka’s equivalent numbers were 7 and 2.
HJK’s difficulties in integrating Juho Mäkelä into their side have been resolved very easily: he isn’t in their side. Their attacking quartet is Bah, Parikka, Sorsa and a rejuvenated valeri Popovitch, who thoroughly enjoyed his goal today. He was well received by the Haka fans, getting rounds of applause at regular intervals, and his link-up play was efficient and inventive.
The title favourites looked very accomplished, with Parikka and Medo playing key roles along with Popovitch, and Sebastian Sorsa working very hard aside from his goal, which was scored direct from a corner. The word is that Haka are about to sign an Argentinian, and on the evidence of their performance against HJK they will need Javier Mascherano to sort out their midfield.
Thu, Apr 30, 2009
Finland, Veikkausliiga