Haka - Lahti preview

Going down down, down..?


Haka has been the surprise package of the season so far, but the performances have not been anything marvellous, only efficient enough and they have understood of the importance of winning games ugly. Most important thing is to gain the three points, then success will follow. Last season Haka was on the edge of going bankrupt but a local businessman Sedu Koskinen took over and has promised to turn the things around. At first he was laughed at, not only he promised to buy some handsome players into the team to attract female spectators, but lately there has been only a little of critizism as Haka leads the table. Haka has full squad to pick from, but Viljanen 7/0 is doubtful due the EURO U21-trip. ”We have no need to be afraid of anyone anymore”, says Haka goalkeeper Janne Korhonen, ” but it is interesting to see what my last season´s team mate Fofana can do, and Rafael is always one of the most dangerous strikers in the League.”


Lahti started also well, but lately the results have been alarming. They definitely should have won MIFK at home, but only came close by hitting the woodwork several times and they gave the win away on a last-minute equaliser. Three days later at Jyväskylä they became the first victim ever of JJK, who then got their historical win in the Veikkausliiga. Jari Litmanen is always the biggest target for attraction, and he should again be fit to play and will probably get substituted into the second half. On the rumour mill there have talks of mf Konsta Hietanen getting a transfer to Slovakian Zilina, but it is yet to be confirmed.


Haka form:1-3-3-3-3-0

Lahti form:1-3-0-0-1-0


Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 10/0 – 2 Diego Corpache 10/1 – 18 Jari Nikkilä 9/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 10/5 22 Jarno Mattila 10/0 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 10/2 - 7 Mikko Innanen 10/1 – 11 Antti Hynynen 9/2 , 10 Mika Mäkitalo 9/1 - 8 Jani Kauppila 10/0 - 9 Niko Ikävalko 8/1


Bench: 4 Markus Joenmäki 1/0, 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 14 Valeri Minkenen 4/0, 15 Nicolas Kivistö 5/0, 16 Jani Bäckman 7/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 6/1

out : 3 Petri Viljanen 7/0 ?, 5 Kalle Parviainen 0/0


Coach : Olli Huttunen



FC Lahti: Szentpeteri 7/0 – 2 Heikki Haara 10/0 – 3 Henri Toivomäki 10/0 - 4 Janne Moilanen 3/0 – 6 Kalle Eerola 7/0 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 10/3 - 9 Rafael 9/2 – 11 Drilon Shala 10/5 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 10/0 – 15 Jukka Vanninen 10/0 - 17 Eero Korte 10/1

Bench: 10 Jari Litmanen 6/0, 12 Toni Huuhka 7/1, 19 Riku Heini 5/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 8/1, 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 2/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 3/0


out: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season


Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä

Prediction: 1-1 draw