Nordic Football News

Last night, a great night from brand new KuPS signing Dickson Nwakaeme helped KuPS to a 3-0 win over RoPS, while TamU did exactly what was needed and overcame JJK with the scoreline 1-0. A more detailed round-up is on the way once the round is completed, but for now we are taking a look at today’s games

FC Inter (7th) – FC Lahti (9th), Sunday 6:30 PM

As the league table indicates, both sides are underperforming. Lahti have found it very difficult to win football games in the first half of the season, but it looks like they might have brighter days ahead of them. Last Sunday they beat TamU in Veikkausliiga and Thursday saw them take a great 4-1 win over KS Dinamo Tirana. Especially the latter game will have helped the team regain some faith in themselves.

Inter, on the other hand, are going the other way. They have lost no less than four of their last five games, and as if that was not enough to destroy a team’s self-confidence, goalkeepers Patrick Bantamoi and David Monsalve are both out due to suspensions. 19-year old Eemeli Reponen will start against Lahti, so it is not hard to guess that the visitors will want to test the youngster as much as possible.

A tight game is on the cards here. The first goal is probably quite important, and with the league’s best striker about to face an unexperienced junior keeper, Lahti might just about edge it. A home win or a draw is not a far-fetched guess either, but I am taking a risk and going for Lahti, mostly owing to their good run.

Inter are only missing their two goalkeepers, Lahti go into the game without Jukka Veltheim, Mika Hänninen, Jussi Heikkinen and possibly Jukka Vanninen.

Away win

FF Jaro (6th) – HJK (2nd), Sunday 6:30 PM

HJK continue their tour of Ostrobothnia with an away game against Jaro. Wednesday’s visit to VPS produced a 4-3 win, despite the fact that HJK suffered from a two-goal deficit twice during the game. Their hero was Akseli Pelvas, who would deserve to start against HJK, but given Antti Muurinen’s habit of mixing things up when there is no reason to do so, Pelvas’ place in the starting 11 is not guaranteed. Whoever Muurinen picks, HJK should have the better crop of players.

Then again, Jaro have yet to lose a home game this season. It is a bad place to be for any visiting team, and Jaro also happen to play good football. They also have some good individuals such as Mikko Hyyrynen and Sebastian Mannström, so HJK have a tough game coming up. The quality of the visitors should still tell when the final whistle blows, even though the team is somewhat unpredictable.

Jaro are missing Jari Sara while Tuomas Haapala, Paulus Roiha and Ville Taulo are out for HJK.

Away win

IFK Mariehamn (4th) – VPS (1oth), Sunday 6:30 PM

IFK Mariehamn find themselves from a European spot. It is somewhat surprising, but proves that they have the right players for their way of playing. VPS have found themselves under the command of Petri Vuorinen and Juha Reini. They lost to HJK in their last game, but still bagged three goals against the title candidates. Before that game they won no less than five occasions in a row, so they are becoming a force to be reckoned with. The teams are quite even on paper, and inseparable in my books.

Sasha Anttilainen and Wilhelm Ingves are doubtful for IFK, goalkeeper Henri Sillanpää might be out for VPS.

Draw

MYPA (11th) – Haka (1st), Sunday 6:30 PM

You rarely see a team that suffers from a four-year title hangover, but in the case of MYPA it seems to be concrete cold reality. The 2005 champions now have to guard their rear so they do not end up in the relegation spots. They have a good enough team so they could easily avoid it, but strangely they are low down in the table. By contrast, Haka are topping the table – perhaps surprisingly, but still deservedly. This is another game into which the Valkeakoski team go as clear favourites.

MYPA are missing Sampsa Timoska and Ady, while Kalle Parviainen and Valeri Minkenen are out for Haka.

Away win