TPS - HJK

TPS: 3-3-3-3-1-3 ----------- HJK: 3-3-0-3-3-3

H2H:2-6-11. League 23.04.2009 HJK-TPS 2-2

EDIT:FT 1-1

Hot top-clash and a Veikkausliiga classic game awaits at TPS Veritas-stadion when the hosts meet the current leaders HJK who have a collected so far four points more than TPS. An extremely important match which TPS can not afford to lose if they want to keep their championship hopes in their own hands. TPS have been unbeaten in 8 of their last Veikkausliiga matches and have hit the form, but the same can be said also about HJK, who can add to that list an away win in Lithuania in an Europe League ql-game against Vetra.

TPS have full squad and they are confident ahead of the game, says Marko Rajamäki from TPS; ”We need full support from our supporters as HJK is the best team ever in Finland. We can not rely that they are more concentrated in european games as they have a big squad full of players hungry for success.”

TPS have no injury worries, the only distraction in the team being the rumours of the possible transfers of some of the U21-players out of TPS.

In the light of the history HJK has been on top, but TPS in this form is a big danger to anyone and a serious title-contender, especially if they do not lose on Sunday.

HJK away 0-1 win at Vetra on Thursday was greeted with big applauds, especially after the opponents for the next round were drawn at UEFA and the next possible match in the Europe League would be against ex-national coach Roy Hodgson´s Fulham. There is a chance that the thoughts and dreams of HJK are already in the european glory, but HJK coach will do his utmost to prevent that and try to keep the other teams in a distance also in the local league.

HJK are missing Paulus Roiha 3/0 and Tuomas Haapala 5/0, but as the replacements have been outstanding it has been no reason to worry for HJK.


TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 13/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 13/0 – 18 Chris Cleaver 1/0 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 13/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 14/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 14/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 13/0 – 10 Riku Riski 14/4 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 14/3 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 13/5 - 21 Wayne Brown 14/3

Bench: 3 Kalle Mäkinen 0/0, 11 Mika Ääritalo 4/1, 17 Roope Riski 0/0, 19 Patrik Lomski 6/0, 22 Jesse Saarinen 0/0, 29 Yll Hoxha 4/0, 23 Juho Lähde 0/0, 24 Jani Aaltonen 0/0, 25 Santeri Mäkinen 0/0, 27 Tuomas Markkula 0/0, 31 Alban Ferati 0/0, 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 13/0, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 13 Samu-Petteri Mäkelä 8/0, 5 Simo Valakari 7/0

Coach : Pasi Rautiainen - a HJK legend!



HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 14/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 13/0 – 5 Jukka Sauso 13/0 - 4 Mohamed Kamara 13/2 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 5/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 14/4 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 14/4 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 14/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 12/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 14/3 – 20 Jukka Raitala 14/0

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 4/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 21 Petri Oravainen 11/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 28 Nosh A Lody 0/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 9/3, 32 Sami Salmi 0/0, 16 Jarno Parikka 14/3,, 8 Ville Taulo 4/0, 18 Juhani Ojala 2/0

Unavailable:15 Paulus Roiha 3/0, 7 Tuomas Haapala 5/0

Coach : Antti Muurinen

Bettingwise an interesting clash. Personally I believe that TPS is not a top team yet, but the HJK distraction of the european hopes must be taken into account. And HJK might be happy enough with a draw here to keep TPS 4 points away.

More analysis tomorrow.

Edit: This is tomorrow now, but it stays for me a no bet.