FC Lahti - HJK preview

Lahti (9th) – HJK (2nd)

Lahti: 1-1-3-0-0-3
HJK: 3-1-1-1-1-1

H2H:8-4-8

Last game:25.05.09 HJK – Lahti 1-0

There is definitely no love lost between these two, for Lahti this is the match that has to be won in the season no matter what. The HJK coach Antti Muurinen did coach FC Lahti before this spell, and while he left he also took the best players of Lahti with him to join the biggest club of Finland. Lahti results lately have been disappointing, partly due injuries and additional games in the cup and end europe league qualifications, but for this encounter they will get almost the best line-up possible.

HJK have dropped from the first spot of the league because of their run of 5 consecutive draws, but according to Muurinen they will fight until the bitter and believe in what they do and start winning again at Lahti. ”Of course it troubles me that we lost the top spot to TPS, but the season is far from over and everything is still in our hands. I know this is a big game for Lahti and we have to be careful with Rafael and Litmanen, and the absence of Medo from our side does not help, but we are ready. ”

Defender Jukka Raitala 19/0 has been linked with Hoffenheim lately and striker Juho Mäkelä was this week at the tests of Serie B Ascoli, but is likely to play against Lahti. Haapala and Medo are missing due injuries of the Helsinki outfit.


FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 12/0 –15 Jukka Vanninen 17/1 – 12 Toni Huuhka 15/1 - 2 Heikki Haara 16/1 – 6 Kalle Eerola 16/0 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 17/3 - 9 Rafael 17/3 – 11 Drilon Shala 19/5 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 18/0 – 19 Riku Heini 14/0 - 17 Eero Korte 19/2

Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 8/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 7/0, 10 Jari Litmanen 10/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 6/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 17/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 9/2, 3 Henri Toivomäki 17/0

Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0

Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä


HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 19/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 18/0 – 5 Jukka Sauso 17/0 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 3/1 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 10/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 19/4 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 19/4 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 19/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 18/5 – 20 Jukka Raitala 19/0

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 5/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 21 Petri Oravainen 13/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 28 Nosh A Lody 0/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 14/4, 32 Sami Salmi 0/0, 16 Jarno Parikka 18/3, 8 Ville Taulo 6/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 3/0, 18 Juhani Ojala 3/0

Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0, 4 Medo 17/3

Coach : Antti Muurinen

Prediction: For Lahti this is the match not to lose as for HJK it is only a match among others, important only because of the situation in the league. I took Lahti + 0,5 @ 1.82, and feel quite confident about it. After all there is a long time sine HJK has won a game and Lahti are no mugs.