Injury-riddled Tamu travels to Vaasa

VPS – TamU

H2H:4-7-6. Last game 02.05.2009 TamU – VPS 1-0 League.

VPS:3-3-3-3-0-1
TamU: 0-0-3-0-3-3

Tampere United have been riddled with injuries the whole season and the game against VPS makes no difference, there are 9 players sidelined against this a bit derby-like clash. They still do get a decent opening eleven on the pitch, but on the bench are basically only youngsters from the 2nd division reserve team Ilves.

”The matches against VPS have always been very tight and close”, says Tampere head coach Ari Hjelm, ” and because of of the injuries we have VPS is definitely the favourite in this game”, he continues trying to put pressure on the home side. ”We play with the players we have available, and it has been a great occasion to see what the young players can do”, he adds sarcastically. ”I can only thank Ilves that they keep on feeding us with players.

VPS took a win, draw and a loss during last week. ”It was an important point we got from IFK Mariehamn”, says VPS captain Tero Koskela. ”It was a stupid loss against HJK at home, but the self-confidence is back and we will challenge TamU”.

There is only point in between them in the league, and an even game is again to be expected.

The only important missing for VPS is mf Petteri Forsell 8/1 who took a stupid red card on the last minute in their Cup game against Futura, a game that they had already won easily 1-4.

VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 10/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 13/1 – 11 Toni Hahto 11/0 – 16 Jyrki Saranpää 13/1 – 19 Jan Berg 13/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 9/1 – 7 Tero Koskela 11/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 13/3 - 22 Tony Björk 13/1 - 10 Antonio Inutile 12/3 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 13/1

Bench: 4 Jussi Äijälä 9/0, 9 Jussi Aalto 6/1, 20 Rikard Lindroos 9/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 8/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 5/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0, 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0, 6 Petteri Forsell 8/1

Coaches: Juha Reini & Petri Vuorinen



TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 2/0 - 18 Rafinha 13/3 - 3 Mathias Lindström 13/1 – 13 Sakari Saarinen 13/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 10/0 – 16 Ilari Ruuth 2/0 - 5 Antti Ojanperä 11/1 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 12/1 – 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 12/1 – 30 Jari Niemi 12/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 2/0

Bench 21 Jonne Hjelm 13/1, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0

Out:2 Toni Järvinen 0/0 10 Toni Petrescu 4/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 8 Antti Pohja 7/1, 9 Juha Pirinen 4/0, 20 Juska Savolainen 12/1, 7 Jussi Kujala 13/1, 23 Chris James 2/1

Coach : Ari Hjelm

Prediction: The bookies and the punters are only looking at the absentees, not concentrating on tha main thing which is who are playing? TamU starting eleven is way beyond better than that of VPS, and there is big value for TamU 0 @ 2.25 at Sbobet