Haka v HJK
This is Finland’s classico, the game between the historical heavyweights with more titles between them than they know what to do with. It’s also Haka’s first home game, Sedu Koskinen’s first chance to bring the magic of a summer of music festivals and family-friendly entertainment to Tehtaan Kenttä.Unfortunately the weather is a bit crap, but the attendance will be interesting: a lot of Haka fans travel from outside Valkeakoski, and they might not want to risk missing the start of Finland v Czech Republic in the hockey.
This is the game NFN will be attending, and we are excited about it, even if nobody else is. It’s another test for HJK after they semi-flunked the Pasi Rautiainen examination, a return to Haka for Valeri Popovitch, and an intriguing battle of wits between two doyens of Finnish coaching, Antti Muurinen and Olli Huttunen. The other Haka returnee Cheybe Fowler is out injured for HJK, but apart from that their squad is fully fit. Haka are without Parviainen, Pesonen, Jöenmäki and the suspended Sami Ristilä.
Draw
Inter v Jaro
Both teams like to play football, and after Inter’s fortuitous last minute winner against MyPa they are looking to push on with their title challenge. Ats Purje and Timo Furuholm return to the squad, and Joni Kauko will play again in midfield after scoring against MyPa.
“He has everything he needs to play there, except maybe the mental part,” Inter coach Job Dragtsma told NFN. “This is not junior football, and he has to earn his place in the squad, which means marking properly and doing everything at a higher level. He can play at a high level, but he is not there yet.”
Daniel Fellman is with the under-19 national team in France, Jens Portin is doubtful, and Sara, Sarajärvi, Sundqvist and Koivisto are all out for Jaro. Inter will miss Aristides Pertot and the suspended Ville Nikkari.
Home win
MyPa v Tampere United
Zico has won the TamU power struggle. More on this in another post, but there is now one leader and he has in the past inspired incredible loyalty and great performances from his players. Now’s the time to repeat the trick.
TamU are missing Järvinen, James and Mononen, while MyPa have a full squad to pick from.
Home win
Lahti v RoPS
RoPS open their Veikkausliiga season just before May with a tricky away game in Lahti. Actually tricky doesn’t quite cover it: they will most likely get a hammering. Litmanen is playing for Lahti, Mweetwa isn’t for RoPS, and this could easily turn into a rout.
Home win
IFK Mariehamn v KuPS
Simunac is out for IFK, but so is the only man who has scored for KuPS this season, Ilja Venäläinen. Pekka Lyyski’s men will emerge victorious.
Home win
April 29th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
There is still time to disagree about the results as the matches have not yet kicked off.
HJK do still have and will have problems with their central defense, but lucky for them it will not be tested too hard today. In my eyes I do see an almost easy away win as Haka 2009 is a very mediocre team and it will be shown to Circus Sedu tonight.
I am eagerly waiting for the TamU power war article, but somehow managed to convince myself that it would not be a good thing for the team. Maybe it is, maybe I am wrong, and maybe I should not had taken into account head2head statistics here. I have a gut feeling about MyPa and it worries me because that is another lousy team with very little fire power.
Jaro! How can the whole world dismiss Jaro? They have been solid all pre-season playing beautiful and more importantly efficient football and everyone keeps talking about Inter. It is so last season…
Jaro to win. Jaro not to lose. Jaro for president!
Agree with Lahti & Mifk, or rather with the relegation candidates KuPS and RoPS. It will be a long way back home.
Twitter: EganRichardson
Says:
April 29th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I see Haka and HJK as about equal at this stage. Haka were awful in pre-season, but have better results than HJK in the proper stuff, and Muurinen has yet to prove he has the mettle to sort out his all-star squad. It should be a good game.
You’re right about Jaro, they are a good team and have some excellent players. I just think they will find it difficult away from home against an Inter team who are going to find their feet. They’re also the kind of team inter love playing against, with their tippy-tappy football and ‘passing it along the ground’ fanciness.
I agree about MyPa, I think they’ll win tonight. The long term stuff prognosis for TamU is uncertain too.