League Cup 21.2.2009

There are 4 games today in the League Cup. All times local + 2 GMT

RoPS - JJK 14:00 Rovaniemi (indoor arena)

This looks like a low-scoring game as neither of these have the firepower needed and the RoPs team is very much in early building state. JJK however are perhaps the most mediocre team of the League is after the transfer of the star striker Wusu to TPS it is hard to seem scoring against anyone. Material is not good enough for Veikkausliiga level.

0-0 and under 2.5 and both teams not to score.



FC Haka - HJK 14:15 Valkeakoski tn (artificial pitch)

This is one of the classic games of the League, however it has little impact in wintery conditions like today. The most interesting figure of this game is Valeri Popovitsh who had to make a shock transfer from Haka to HJK after last season. Think of Raul getting fired from Real Madrid or Gerrard from Liverpool. Nothing is sacred anymore. HJK are slighly better and favourites but they have not yet impressed me and if I had to bet I would go with a low-scoring game here too. Just like in Rovaniemi.


0-0 and under 2.5 and both teams not to score.

FC Inter - TPS 15:00 Kupittaa (artificial pitch)

The most interesting game of the week. Inter were the champions last season and won their local rival TPS last season in this derby in all three games, though TPS was supposed to be the favourite for championship according to some experts.

Both teams have changed quite a lot, Inter lost their absolutely 2 best players (Hooiveld and Chatto to Sweden) and also very important Mäkitalo to FC Haka and the impact of that is yet to be seen. Today Inter is introducing some new test players and jury is still out whether they are good enough. The trust for Inter managing and scouting is strong but new players are always new and thus questionmarks arise.

TPS have new players and a new manager, former Bundesleague and national team player Pasi Rautiainen. Both teams have injuries too and I am not able to say anything about the possible outcome of this game but I am curious to see what actually happens at Turku today.

No bet.



TamU - FC Lahti 16:00 Seinäjoki (neutral venue, indoors)

FC Lahti has a lot injuries and in the last game against IFK Mariehamn they lost their icon striker Rafael due to knee injury and he was replaced at the pitch by goalkeeper Szentpeteri for the last minutes. That should tell you the amount of injuries. Tampere United have their share of diffuculties as well, but some of their injured are coming back today and

small stakes for home win and Lahti not to score might just be worth it.


If you took all bets from Betfair it might read like this;

TamU to win at 2.38 6 points
TamU under 2.5 1.88 10 points
RoPs-JJK draw 3.44 5 points
RoPs under 2.5 1.83 10 pts
Haka-HJK draw 3.45 5 pts
Haka under 2.5 1.83 10 pts
Inter-TPS no bets