Finland Cup Quarter-finals

Eight teams left to fight for cup glory.

On Wednesday 1.10.09 third-division

City Stars meet FC Honka,

City Stars is quality-wise a second division (Kakkonen) team and will also be promoted after this season. The bad news for them is that the gap between top of Veikkausliiga and Kakkonen is huge. The only upset I can remember when a second division team won a Veikkausliiga club was last round, when Jazz won poor and injury-riddled VPS 0-2.

Espoo lost to HJK only narrowly though and Gnistan made Lahti work until extra time in some other tight Kakkonen - Liiga encounters lately, but here a surprise would be the biggest ever as Honka is in form and arguably the best team in the country right now.. Honka will rotate strongly, but it has no effect whatsoever as the bench is full of quality guys.

Prediction: 0-3,4,5, probably not worth a bet.

EDIT: FT 0-3 by the third hat-trick this week for Jami Puustinen. A good week I must say for this ex Man Utd - trainee. Honka had 9 different players from the league team line-up so the players are pretty well rested against RoPS next Sunday.



On Thursday 2.10.09

KuPs - Inter

KuPS + 0,25 @ 2.17? I might be tempted, and then again not. I will wait for live action, as KuPS are still fighting for the survival in the league and waiting for the news whether the 3 points they lost in the cabinet against RoPS are to be returned.


EDIT: KuPs rested some key players and so did also Inter in the form of Furuholm. FT: 0-2.

Haka - TamU

Two weeks ago I would had gone for TamU with maximum stakes, or at least against Haka. Then, suddenly something has happened. I still do not believe it is permanent and can not really reason it, but I am not going to lose big money third time in a row if it happens to be true that Haka is a useful team again, and TamU do have some suspended and injured players and no one on the bench. LIVE.

FT:1-3. A well-deserved away win in this cup-derby.

FC Lahti - FC Jazz

I took my time in the waiting game and the odds for Lahti - 2.25 have dropped beyond acceptable level. Lahti will win, there is no question about that, but they struggled a bit against another 2nd division team and had to play extra time. I want to see who they are fielding, but Lahti -2.25 @ 1.81 is not acceptable, and I am not prepared to take Jazz either. I wait for live action here too.

EDIT: FT 4-0. Comfortable, could had been also a bit more narrow. It shows the difference of the quality quite well.

IFK Mariehamn - FF Jaro

IFK Mariehamn (4.) – Jaro (10.)

MIFK:3-3-1-0-3-0
Jaro:0-0-1-3-3-0


H2H:8-9-2
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 24.6.09 Jaro – IFK Mariehamn 0-0

The surprise result of the week was created at Haka when they demolished IFK Mariehamn by 5-1. Jaro took also part in a goal-scoring competition and lost 3-5 at home against Honka. ”We defended in an awful way and being soon two goals down was too much,” wonders IFK midfielder Tamas Gruborovics, ” It was very confusing, everything was as normal before the game and we were really focused, and then happened this, ” he continues.

IFK Mariehamn can now wave their hopes of reaching the third spot in the league goodbyes, as Honka is already 6 points up with a better goal difference when there are three matches to go. ”Fourth place would be more than most people expected and we are now fighting for that, though of course everyone is disappointed in the team right now.”, says Gruborovics.

Jaro have played well lately, and they had won JJK and TPS before meeting the in-form team Honka who won 3-5 at Jaro last Sunday. ” Jaro is a good team and they have improved a lot since Alexei Eremenko Sr started as a coach a few weeks ago, ” says IFK captain Mika Niskala. ”Anyone can lose against Honka, but only a few teams will ever score three goals in their net like Jaro did."

Jaro are tenth in the league but with a good finish they can end up a few positions higher and start happily preparing into new season, the first round match at Jaro ended goalless.

Defender Paulus Arajuuri 19/1 who will transfer to Kalmar FF after the season is suspended from the IFK Mariehamn side, gk Markus Koljander 18/0 and df Jani Tanska 20/1 are injured from FF Jaro.


MIFK : 29 Gustav Långbacka 23/0 - 24 Mate Dujilo 19/1 - 6 Marcus Olofsson 22/3 – 22 Alexandros Pappas 22/0 – 3 Patrik Rikama 20/0 – 8 Kenneth Gustavsson 20/2 - 9 Ante Simunac 19/4 – 10 Tamás Gruborovics 22/6 – 15 Amos Ekhalie 12/1 – 30 Sasha Anttilainen 12/1
Bench: 1 Willis Ochieng (gk) 1/0, 2 Dmytro Voloshyn 8/0, 18 Dmytro Pronevych 5/0, 11 Mika Niskala 21/1, 14 Arsim Gashi 19/1, 26 Wilhelm Ingves 21/3, 4 Johan Carlsson 18/1,, 21 Jimmy Sundman 1/0
Unavailable: 23 Paulus Arajuuri 19/1 suspended

Coach : Pekka Lyyski



Jaro: 12 Vitali Teles (gk) 6/0 – 6 Janne Vellamo 20/0 - 5 Kristian Kojola 32/2 – 27 Urmas Rooba 4/0 - 7 Marco Matrone 17/1 – 10 Jonas Emet 22/3 – 17 Petter Meyer 22/5 - 18 Mikko Hyyrynen 20/4 – 19 Sebastian Mannström 23/4 – 22 Jens Portin 22/0 – 23 Joonas Laurikainen 23/3

Bench: 30 Jesse Öst 0/0, 11 Jani Koivisto 13/3, 13 Jani Sarajärvi 9/0, 26 Tommi Haanpää 2/0, 9 Björn-Erik Sundqvist 10/1, 16 Papa Niang 20/3, 21 Daniel Fellman 8/0, 20 Tillman Grove 2/0

Unavailable: 8 Jari Sara 0/0, 3 Heikki Aho 8/0, 1 Markus Koljander (gk)18/0 the rest of the season, 2 Jani Tanska 20/1

Coach : Alexei Eremenko Sr

Betting: I think I give this match a miss. IFK played an awful match at Haka and the motivation for the rest of the season flew out of the window. Jaro might be a bit of value with a handicap.

RoPS - TPS preview

RoPS (13.) – TPS (2.)
RoPS: 0-1-0-0-0-1
TPS: 3-3-1-3-0-3

H2H: 5-5-10
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 24.6.09 TPS – RoPS 3-2

RoPS left the the bottom spot at least temporarily by a point earned from poor travellers MYPA with a 1-1 draw at Rovaniemi. TPS gave no mercy for KuPS and decided the match early, then comfortably saw the match through with a 3-0 home win.

Both teams face a very important task, RoPS need more points to avoid relegation and TPS are only three points behind top team HJK when there are three matches to go. RoPS have not won in their last nine matches, but really would had deserved a win against MYPA, and TPS quicky recovered from their surprise loss at Jaro by easily taking care of KuPS at home by 3-0.

”It has been a long time since we plaed that well, but the MYPA goal was so cheap and funny that it felt like a loss, ” says RoPS coach Mika Lumijärvi, ” but all in all I am quite happy with the defense this time, MYPA could not create too many chances.

In the first round match at Turku RoPS were close to cause a surpise and led the match twice, but in the end TPS scored the goals needed and won 3-2. RoPS gk Kwon remains suspended and this is another big challenge for the second choice keeper K-P Syväjärvi who has not managed to win a game for his team.

TPS have no injury or suspension worries to think about, Simo Valakari who was thought to be the most important player for TPS has not played for months and has been replaced by Kasper Hämäläinen and Wayne Brown more than satisfactorily.

RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 5/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 22/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 19/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 21/2 - 23 Jeremieh Ani 4/2 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 23/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 22/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 17/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 14/1 - 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0
Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 19/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 15/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 6/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 10/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 4/0, 5 White Simwanza 19/0, 10 Chanda Mwaba 21/1, 18 Christopher Musonda 22/4,
Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 20/0

Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi



TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 22/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 21/0 – 34 Jussi Kujala 22/3 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 20/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 23/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 23/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 21/1 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 22/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 23/8 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 22/7 - 21 Wayne Brown 23/8

Bench: 11 Mika Ääritalo 13/3, 29 Yll Hoxha 9/0, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 20/4, 18 Chris Cleaver 19/0, 4 Igor Jovanovic 5/0

Out: 5 Simo Valakari 7/0

Coach: Pasi Rautiainen

Betting: TPS prices have dropped a lot, a way below acceptable level. RoPS is perhaps value only on paper and I will concentrate on live betting and total market.

HJK - MYPA

HJK (1.) – MYPA (8.)
HJK: 1-1-3-3-3-3
MYPA: 0-1-3-3-0-1

H2H:7-7-4
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 11.5.09 MYPA – HJK 1-0

HJK had to fight all the 90 minutes to secure the 3 points from Tampere, but the goal scored by Aki Riihilahti with force and will power was the decisive and HJK continue alone in the top after a 1-2 away win. MYPA came home from Rovaniemi with one point and one goal in the bag after drawing 1-1 with RoPS.

HJK offensive play received a serious blow when when right winger Sebastian Sorsa got a yellow card at Tampere and will be suspended from this match. Sorsa along with left winger Dawda Bah has been essential to HJK attack this season and his absence narrows down HJK attacking options. In the first round match MYPA was controlling throughout the game and caused HJK their first of their two losses this season, also the other defeat is an away match with same 1-0 scoreline at RoPS.

HJK have been hard to beat, but not at all that convincing and there are weakness in all departments of the team. Defence weakened a lot by Jukka Raitala´s transfer to Hoffenheim, and the center midfield has been uncreative, a lot has been saved by the talents and speed of wingers Bah and Sorsa. HJK coach Antti Muurinen has been hugely critized of everything he does and does not do and is unlikely to get a new contract even if they win the title.

”It is significantly more difficult to win games in the end of the season than in the start, ” says Aki Riihilahti, HJK midfielder, ” nothing comes easy, there is a lot of pressure for all teams and it is vital to be concentrated and focused and not look at the standings and think about what the other teams are doing, ” he continues.

MYPA will be without suspended mf Antti Okkonen 5/0, but otherwise have no injuries to add to the list. HJK main worry is the absence of Sebastian Sorsa 23/6, the key player on the right wing.

HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 23/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 22/0 – 4 Medo 20/3 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 7/3 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 14/1 – 21 Petri Oravainen 14/0 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 23/7 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 23/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 22/6 – 11 Mathias Lindström 22/1

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 8/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 18/5, 16 Jarno Parikka 21/3, 8 Ville Taulo 9/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 4/0, 5 Jukka Sauso 19/0

Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0, 9 Sebastian Sorsa 23/6 suspended
Coach : Antti Muurinen


MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 22/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 22/1 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 19/5 – 16 Toni Huttunen 23/2 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 22/1 - 5 Jarno Tuunainen 8/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 16/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 22/0 - 7 Ben Webster 19/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 16/5 – 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0

Bench: 15 Ville Oksanen 20/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 15/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 23/2, 24 Nebi Mustafi 13/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 4/0, 19 Maxim Votinov 16/4, 26 Cleiton 4/1
Unavailable: 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0 injured, 25 Antti Okkonen 5/0 suspended
Coach : Janne Lindberg

Betting: There was mad price available for a while for MYPA + 1.25 @ 1.92, but it is long gone now. Taking HJK with current odds would be madness, as they are missing their most influential player on the right and the only attacking option is now possible to cover. Do not think that MYPA win, but a draw or 1 goal loss is very likely.

Under 2.5 goals at 2.00 felt like a good option, both teams are missing some of their vital attacking options in Sorsa for HJK and MyPa in Ricketts, and also Ady starts from the bench. The weather at the stadium is cold and very windy, looks like a quite and uneventful afternoon in Helsinki.

Lahti - Haka preview

Lahti (11.) – Haka (7.)
Lahti: 0-0-0-0-0-3
Haka: 1-1-1-0-0-3


H2H:5-7-7
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 24.6.09 Haka – Lahti 3-0

Jari Litmanen returned to the FC Lahti squad and played his 100th match in the league, and finished the match with a style by scoring twice. JJK were given no chance, and Lahti cruised to a 3-1 home victory. Haka had transformed from a poor team into a magnificent one in a couple of days run, and finished their run of 9 consecutive matches without a win with a shocking 5-1 win against IFK Mariehamn. The question is was the good result down to Haka or IFK?

Both teams have lost interested in the league as there is nothing to achieve in the final rounds, both have some injuries and both have a cup game ahead next week when Lahti hosts second division Jazz, and Haka have a big match against local rivals TamU. Rotations are to expected from both camps even giving up is denied by Lahti coach Ilkka Mäkelä, ” absolutely we think only about one game at the time and this is importants for us, and for the players who want to play for us also in the future. ”

Haka coach Sami Ristilä admits that ”yes, we will meet Tampere United in the Cup on Thursday and it might have an effect on who is playing at Lahti, ” but denies that they are handing out any points by saying ” we are looking for a win, it tasted so nice to finally win against IFK Mariehamn and we want to repeat it!”

Lahti have a lot of minor injuries and it is practically impossible to predict their line-up, but the situation has been the same for a while and they will find a competitive line-up. Jari Litmanen who shone against JJK is one of the questionmarks as always. Haka might welcome back important Jarno Mattila, while the key players are more or less rested for the Cup.

FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 14/0 – 23 Jarkko Värttö 3/0 - 3 Henri Toivomäki 21/0– 6 Kalle Eerola 20/1 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 21/4 - 9 Rafael 21/4 – 11 Drilon Shala 23/6 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 22/0 – 10 Jari Litmanen 12/2 - 17 Eero Korte 23/2
Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 10/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 9/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 19/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 13/2, 5 Jari Holopainen 1/0, 12 Toni Huuhka 19/1, 5 Juho-Matti Heikari 2/0, 19 Riku Heini 14/0

Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 7/0, 2 Heikki Haara 18/1

Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä


Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 23/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 12/0 - 3 Petri Viljanen 15/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 19/6 - 10 Mika Mäkitalo 20/3 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 22/6 - 7 Mikko Innanen 23/4 - 11 Antti Hynynen 21/6 - 41 Valeri Minkenen 13/0 - 8 Jani Kauppila 22/1 - 17 Kalle Multanen 2/0

Bench: 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 19/0, 19 Juuso Salonen 4/0, 26 Jhon Cagua 3/0, 5 Kalle Parviainen 2/0, 22 Jarno Mattila 22/1

Out:, 2 Diego Corpache 15/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 16/2, 9 Niko Ikävalko 18/3,

Coach: Sami Ristilä

Betting: I picked Lahti - 0,25 @ 2.14. Haka win last week just a coincidence and result of IFK playing badly.

Inter Turku - Tampere United

Inter (5.) – TamU (6.)
Inter: 0-0-1-3-3-1
TamU: 1-0-3-3-3-0


H2H:1-5-12
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 1.7.09 TamU – Inter 3-2

Inter Turku fought a 2-2 draw at VPS after having conceded two early goals, and TamU did all they could to stop HJK but ended up with nothing after losing the lead and letting HJK return home with a 1-2 away win with the help of TamU goal-keeper Mikko Kavén.

Despite having played a mediocre season both teams still have a chance for a european spot through the Cup and also through the league if they reach the 4th place and if the cup-winner is Honka so there is still a lot at stake. Inter goal-keeper at Vaasa was David Monsalve while first choice gk Patrick Bantamoi was still sidelined due a thumb injury, but his performance left a lot to hope for and Bantamoi might return between the posts. Kennedy and Kauko got their fourth yellow cards of the season which keep the pair out of this match due an automatic suspension. Inter did not yet field the new signing Civit at Vaasa, but playing in front of a home ground would be a perfect opportunity to give him his debut. Guillano Grot returns to the squad after suspension.

Tampere United have played better than expected lately, it was one of the favourites for the title before the season but serious financial trouble has led one from thing to another, and the team today is much younger and less than experienced than the team that started the season. Players on loan have returned to their clubs, and some other key players have sold out to another teams leaving behind a team of reserves ad younsters who have their opportunity to show what they are made of. No new injuries for TamU.

Inter have won TamU only once so far in the league, but on Saturday they have a good chance to make the statistics a bit prettier.

Inter Turku: 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0 – 6 Jermu Gustafsson 7/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 23/0 – 11 Timo Furuholm 21/11 – 14 Joni Aho 20/2 – 18 Ats Purje 18/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 23/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 20/5 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 21/1 - 29 Henri Lehtonen 22/1 - 22 Sami Sanevuori 15/0

Bench: 8 Touko Tumanto 11/0, 13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0, 12 David Monsalve (gk) 4/0, 19 Aristides Pertot 15/1,3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 12/0, 30 Martin Civit 0/0, 9 Guillano Grot 15/3
Out: 27 Kennedy 20/2 & 24 Joni Kauko 18/2 suspended
Coach: Job Dragtsma


TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 12/0 - 18 Rafinha 23/6 - 13 Sakari Saarinen 21/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 8/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 20/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 11/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 9/0 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 22/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 22/6 - 30 Jari Niemi 22/1 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 12/2

Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 23/3, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1, 4 Jesse-Juho Kuusisto 6/0, 28 Jaakko Ruuskanen 1/0

Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 5 Antti Ojanperä 19/1 suspended

Coach: Ari Hjelm


Betting: The odds are set about right in the asian line. My limits;

Inter -0,5 2.33
Inter -0,25 1.95
Inter 0 1,68

TamU + 0,5 1,75
TamU + 0,25 2.06
TamU 0 2,48

the current line at Sbobet is Inter - 0,25 1.82/2.11 which shows value in TamU, but there are so many questionmarks regarding this game and I also have an agent at the stadium anylysing the live action and I rather wait for that.

according the current information TamU + 0,25 is worth taking but I will wait and leave some more for the margin of error.

KuPS - Honka ------> Honka - 0,5 @ 1.94

KuPS (12.) – Honka (3.)
KuPS:3-3-0-3-3-0
Honka :1-3-3-0-3-3

H2H:2-4-14
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 24.06.09 Honka – KuPS 4-1

The trip to Turku to meet TPS was a bit too much for KuPS, and their good run ended at least temporarily by a 3-0 loss. Honka travelled to Jaro for a goalfest and came home with an astonishing 3-5 away win with a hat trick for in-form striker Jami Puustinen. KuPS are now 3 points in front of RoPS who are at the play-off for relegation spot, and on the last round KuPS travel to Rovaniemi which means that staying up is in their own hands. Honka have lost almost all hope for the title as they are already five points behind HJK with three games to go, but they are fighting to be the runners-up along with TPS, and these two will also meet in the last round match at Turku.

KuPS lost last time at Turku by two quick goals, but they did have a line-up which suggested that they were saving some key players and had not budgeted a point from that match. Important striker Pele Koljonen 18/5 also returns to the line-up afer a two-game ban, and KuPS are ready to put up a show against Honka, who have played the most efficient and beautiful football lately in the league.

Since the last meeting in June KuPS has strengthened significantly on the pitch and the coach has been succesful in implementing his ideas, so KuPS should not be thrashed as badly this time but instead they should be able for good fight.

KuPS have no injury worries and also Honka has a full squad available, for both teams this is third match within 6 days.


KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 20/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 23/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 22/3 - 9 Balazs Balogh 17/1 - 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 18/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 17/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 7/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 21/6 - 15 Ollo 18/2 - 7 Miikka Turunen 21/2 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 8/3- THE KEY MAN

Bench: 24 Atte Hoivala 11/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0, 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 7/0, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 4/0, 3 Janne Reinikainen 18/0, 18 Ville Strandman 5/0, 19 Juho Karppinen 3/2, 11 Pele Koljonen 18/5, 4 Patrik Turunen 15/0, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season

Coach: Esa Pekonen


Honka: 1 Tuomas Peltonen 18/0 – 2 Sampo Koskinen 16/0 - 19 Rami Hakanpää 21/2- 3 Roope Heilala 17/1 - 11 Hannu Haarala 14/0 - 28 Rasmus Schuller 16/2 - 20 Nicolas Otaru 20/2 - 21 Joel Perovuo 22/3 - 17 Demba Savage 21/4 - 6 Hermanni Vuorinen 23/15 - 10 Jami Puustinen 22/8

Bench: 12 Janne Henriksson (gk) 6/0, 15 Aleksandr Kokko 17/1, 14 Jussi Vasara 23/7, 7 John Weckström 10/1, 5 Henri Aalto 13/0, 13 Ville Koskimaa 12/1, 26 Jaakko Lepola 15/4

Out:
Coach: Mika Lehkosuo

Betting: KuPS have done well, but the player material both in quantity and quality is 3 classes above, and the price found for Honka win represents value, my limit for Honka win was only 1.67 and i was expecting a bigger handicap. Honka - 0.5 @ 1.94 The local bookie, with bigger margins of course, offer 1.65 for Honka win.

JJK - VPS preview ----------> VPS 0 @ 1.99 EDIT: No bet

EDIT: I decided to buy it back with some profit. VPS have nothing to play for, but there are too many connections between the teams starting with the managers, and I would not be surprised if VPS were happier to see RoPS go down. I am not suggesting this is fixed, I just do not like the idea anymore.



JJK (14.) – VPS (9.)
JJK : 1-0-0-0-0-0
VPS: 3-0-3-0-0-1

H2H:0-0-1
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 25.06.09 VPS - JJK 3-2

JJK continue looking doomed for the drop as they seem to have nothing to give on the pitch, and this week they lost 3-1 at Lahti after another poor performance. VPS took an early lead against Inter, only to have to settle with a 2-2 draw in a game in which both teams lacked a bit of motivation but were hungry for goals.

This is another crucial battle for JJK as there are only three rounds to go. They are now one point behind RoPS who occupy the relegation play-off spot and four points behind KuPS who should really be their target as in current form JJK will be in trouble with the team facing the promotion play-off from the 1st division. JJK coach Ville Priha has made a lot of changes and experiments with the team but nothing seems to work out the way planned, fortunately for JJK they meet a team who has absolutely nothing to play for in the league and who are only waiting for the season to end.

VPS have been in turmoil lately behind the bench as the sports director and another one of the coaching pair Juha Reini resigned because he disagreed with the contracts made for the future. There are no injuries at VPS, but against Inter they had decided to field second choice gk Henrik Moisander and it might as well be repeated here along other experiments.

In June VPS won at home 3-2, but the difference in class was a way clearer than the the FT score suggests, this time JJK need to win regardless whether they are the worse team or not, time to pretend to be a Veikkausliiga team is completely over and it is the result that counts.

JJK have no major injuries or suspensions to worry about.


JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 21/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 3/0 - 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 21/7 – 7 Anssi Viren 21/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 23/4 – 10 Tommi Kari 20/5 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 22/0 – 19 Christian Sund 20/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 22/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 10/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 8/1

Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 16/0, 18 Zakaria Abahassine 16/0, 3 Janne Hannula 16/0, 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 6/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 14/0, 15 Antto Tapaninen 2/0

Out: 21 Toni Koskela 17/0 for the rest of the season

Coach: Ville Priha


VPS: 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 7/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 23/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 18/0 – 19 Jan Berg 23/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 19/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 21/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 23/3 - 22 Tony Björk 23/3 - 10 Antonio Inutile 22/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 22/1 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 15/2

Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 16/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 18/1, 21 Arttu Seppälä 2/1,16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 11 Toni Hahto 13/0, 1 Henri Sillanpää 18/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0

Coach: Petri Vuorinen

Betting:

JJK have a lot to play for, but they are a lower division team by their player material.

Limits for JJK 0 @ 2.33 ---- VPS 0 @ 1.75 -----------> VPS 1.99 to be found, big value.

Puntteri´s Inner Circle

Some people have approached me and enquired about getting premier service, i.e. earlier picks and estimations and a possibility to live info for betting purposes.

I might be tempted, but it would require that the number of members is small as the odds are very vulnerable in these smaller leagues, and I do not want to get too occupied in collecting fees and sending confirmations and all that routine everyday stuff which is by no means productive but rather exhausting. I do not want to bother myself with nonsense, especially for small money.

Technically it would be no problem, and given a bigger time frame the odds usually also return to normal by the kick-off, at least if we are talking about underdogs.

The site, even at this very rough state, has attracted attention also from some of the big fish in the pond, including bookies, and thus a smaller circulation would make sense. I would also get rid of any unwanted copying from the site.

The fact that the season is closing to an end in Finland means nothing, there will always be a new one, but there are naturally also other leagues than these.

If you have any opinions about anything, please drop me a line at puntteri@gmail.com

Veikkausliiga weekend

Estimations ready, asians are shy on showing their odds.

I disagree quite strongly in three matches out of seven with the european bookies.

And the teams are

*****, ***** and *****^'

More tomorrow.

Åbo IFK - Ilves at Kakkonen on Friday

Extremely interesting match at Kakkonen!

Head-to-head stats show two things,

a) this has always been a tight encounter and
b) Ilves have won all the six games.

24.04.09 Kakkonen Lohko B Ilves vs. ÅIFK 2:1
19.09.08 Kakkonen Lohko B ÅIFK vs. Ilves 1:2
04.07.08 Kakkonen Lohko B Ilves vs. ÅIFK 1:0
24.04.09 Kakkonen Lohko B Ilves vs. ÅIFK 2:1
19.09.08 Kakkonen Lohko B ÅIFK vs. Ilves 1:2
04.07.08 Kakkonen Lohko B Ilves vs. ÅIFK 1:0

I do not put too much emphasis on h2h-stats in general, and at this level a lot depends on who are playing as most teams work as reserve teams for as well, Åbo for TPS and Ilves for TamU. The transfer window has closed though, and lately Åbo line-up has been steadily the same, full of TPS academy players.

Åbo IFK have real motivation to win as they are the last one surviving the drop at the moment, Ilves have lost their chances of promotion.

Ilves is a underish team and Åbo the opposite, both have done OK in their latest 10,

Ilves 10 7 0 3 15:8 7 21
ÅIFK 10 3 3 4 19:14 5 12

There is home advantage for the underdog, which usually counts for something especially in the mid-week as the players are not professional.

A tight match to be expected as the odds also suggest, at the moment

Åbo + 0,25 @ 1.84
Ilves - 0,25 @ 2,04

The pick?

Impossible to decide until seeing the actual line-ups. At this level I am a bit hesitant to pay for the draw, so no bet yet. There is also live info available through my agent at the stadium.

EDIT: Took over 2 goals @ 2.02 live, but at ht score is still 0-0. My agent suggested Åbo despite rising odds, so I believe him. Åbo @ 2.45

EDIT2: FT 1-0. Ilves had their chances but it is the goals that count.

Veikkausliiga picks for 23.09.2009 - and results

At least there were goals, but my underdogs did not quite make it and the Haka result is beyond me.


FC Lahti - JJK 3-1 (3-0)
Eerola 2 Kari 65
Jari Litmanen 30 43!!

Haka - IFK M:hamn 5-1 (2-0)
Hynynen 5 Simunac 90
Holopainen 26
Innanen 50 54
Mäkitalo 75

VPS - Inter 2-2 (2-2)
Björk 15 Ojala 27
Kainu 20 Pertot 40

TPS - KuPS 3-0 (2-0)
Brown 12
Paatelainen 14 68

TamU - HJK 1-2 (0-1)
Petrescu 46 Sorsa 21
Riihilahti 56

Jaro - Honka 3-5 (1-2)
Meyer 45 Puustinen 14 53 79 rp
Hyyrynen 59 Vuorinen 44
Koivisto 81 rp Vasara 68

RoPS - MYPA 1-1 (1-0)
Musonda 37 Votinov 75



I took 4 bets early, the reasonings are to be found at the previews. Lahti was included after seiing the line-ups.

IFK Mariehamn 0 @ 1.78

KuPS + 1.5 @ 1.80

TamU + 0,5 @ 1.99

RoPS + 0,25 @ 2.11

FC Lahti -1 @ 2.12 (vs JJK) with a double stake.

Haka - MIFK preview, the gem of the week

Haka (7.) – MIFK (4.)

Haka: 0-1-1-1-0-0
MIFK:1-3-3-1-0-3

H2H:8-0-4
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 17.06.09 IFK – Haka 2-1

Haka gave another horrid performance at Honka and without the magnificent saves by gk Janne Korhonen the scoreline would have been much worse than 2-0. The new coach Sami Ristilä has found absolutely nothing from the team and their strech of winless matches looks set to continue also against IFK who are still seriously fighting og the 3rd place in the league. IFK took a routine win 2-0 of visiting Lahti last week are also favourites against poor Haka.

The owner of Haka, mr Sedu Koskinen, a restaurant mogul have not made too many friends at Haka lately. His first piece of action last season was to sack Haka-legend Valeri Popovits who then found a new home at HJK, and last week he fired another legend, the coach Olli Huttunen who had served Haka for 32 years, while he was away with the national team. No respect for any traditions, and he has also continuosly put his nose in the selection of the players while he should only had been running the club which is his expertise. Money, not football. In the current state the players look like they are scared of doing anything, and there are more than two months since they last won a match.

IFK are still playing their defense-minded football where everyone knows exactly what his role is the team and go on with the team plan. They have been lacking killer instinct in front of the goal, but otherwise they have been absolutely the most solid and trustworthy team in the league and fully deserve to get something out of this season. Their dream of getting a spot in the european is justified, but there is no room to let the concentration and focus slip for a moment.

Haka have no new injury worries, but the new left – back from Ecuador Jhon Cagua 2/0 has been hazardeous and should be replaced by someone. By anyone to be more precise.

MIFK miss important df Paulus Arajuuri 19/1 and striker Sasha Anttilainen 12/1 due suspension, but there is depth in the squad for replacements. Johan Carlsson returns to the line-up after suspension.

Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 22/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 11/0 - 3 Petri Viljanen 14/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 18/5 - 22 Jarno Mattila 22/1 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 21/6 - 7 Mikko Innanen 22/2 - 11 Antti Hynynen 20/5 - 41 Valeri Minkenen 12/0 - 8 Jani Kauppila 22/1 - 17 Kalle Multanen 1/0

Bench: 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 18/0, 10 Mika Mäkitalo 19/2, 19 Juuso Salonen 4/0, 26 Jhon Cagua 2/0, 5 Kalle Parviainen 1/0

Out:, 2 Diego Corpache 15/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 16/2, 9 Niko Ikävalko 18/3

Coach: Sami Ristilä


MIFK : 29 Gustav Långbacka 22/0 - 24 Mate Dujilo 18/1 - 6 Marcus Olofsson 21/3 – 22 Alexandros Pappas 21/0 – 4 Johan Carlsson 17/1 – 8 Kenneth Gustavsson 19/2 - 9 Ante Simunac 18/3 – 10 Tamás Gruborovics 21/6 – 15 Amos Ekhalie 11/1 –- 26 Wilhelm Ingves 20/3
Bench: 1 Willis Ochieng (gk) 1/0, 2 Dmytro Voloshyn 8/0, 18 Dmytro Pronevych 4/0, 11 Mika Niskala 20/1, 14 Arsim Gashi 18/1
Unavailable: 23 Paulus Arajuuri 19/1 suspended, 30 Sasha Anttilainen 12/1 suspended

Coach : Pekka Lyyski

Betting: Haka got two shots against Honka, both off target. No corners, no possession, nothing except good work by gk Janne Korhonen. MIFK definitely not to lose!

Lahti - JJK preview

Lahti (11.) – JJK (13.)
Lahti: 3-0-0-0-0-0
JJK : 0-1-0-0-0-0


H2H:1-0-1
Last game in Veikkausliiga:17.06.09 JJK – Lahti 2-1

FC Lahti have been mostly playing for fun and experimenting with new players from the bench as there is practically nothing at stake for them in the league and they are waiting for the Cup quarter-finals. Last week they lost at Mariehamn 2-0, and as JJK got beaten at Inter Turku by 3-0 the form of both teams looks very miserable. Lahti have lost last 5 and JJK last 4 games in a row.

JJK need desperately more points, but looks like the manager Ville Priha has also lost his nerves and has started toying with line-up with no success, but has managed to confuse his team and the fans. JJK have not gained any points in the last five games and quite deservedly so as they look like they are in wrong league, but they have a change of survival and the best possible opponents are exactly teams like Lahti who have lost interest of league completely.

Lahti need to straighten up, and fortunately for their supporters Lahti lost the first round game at JJK and get some extra motivation out of revenge. Important mf Jari Litmanen has been resting lately and has not been with the team a lot but instead stayed at his home in Tallinn, Estonia, but might take a role once more in the Lahti line-up.
No new injury worries for Lahti.

JJK are in desperate need of points and only the awful form of RoPS has kept JJK on the play-off spot for survival instead of dropping to the straight relegation zone. There is no more room for chasing their luck and hoping that RoPS do not get any more points, and every single match of late has been like a title game for them, and JJK have lost them all. The performances have not been good enough to even dream of any points, despite having no injury worries at all.

FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 13/0 –15 Jukka Vanninen 19/1 – 23 Jarkko Värttö 2/0 - 2 Heikki Haara 18/1 – 6 Kalle Eerola 19/0 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 20/4 - 9 Rafael 20/4 – 11 Drilon Shala 22/6 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 21/0 – 19 Riku Heini 14/0 - 17 Eero Korte 22/2
Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 10/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 9/0, 10 Jari Litmanen 11/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 19/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 12/2, 3 Henri Toivomäki 20/0, 5 Jari Holopainen 1/0, 12 Toni Huuhka 18/1, 5 Juho-Matti Heikari 2/0

Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 7/0

Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä


JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 20/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 4/0 - 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 20/7 – 7 Anssi Viren 20/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 22/4 – 10 Tommi Kari 19/4 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 21/0 – 19 Christian Sund 19/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 21/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 10/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 8/1

Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 15/0, 18 Zakaria Abahassine 15/0, 3 Janne Hannula 15/0, 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 5/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 13/0, 15 Antto Tapaninen 2/0

Out: 21 Toni Koskela 17/0 for the rest of the season

Coach: Ville Priha

Betting: I need to see the actual line-up of Lahti before deciding, but the quality difference between the teams is way bigger than the current standings might say.

RoPS - MYPA preview 23.09 2009

RoPS (14.) – MYPA (8.)
RoPS: 0-0-1-0-0-0
MYPA: 3-0-1-3-3-0


H2H:4-6-10
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 14.07.09 MYPA – RoPS 4-0



RoPS have gained a total of one point from their last eight matches and losing to TamU at home 1-5 showed no signs of improvement and at the last place in the table RoPS are soon running out of time. MYPA fought well against KuPS and might have deserved more than a home loss of 1-2, but the dismissal of Antti Okkonen in the first half surely did not help.

RoPS have had injury worries, discipline problems, they lack a prominent goal-scorer and their coaches managing abilities have been questioned a lot of times. Still, staying in the league is in their own hands and MYPA is one of the teams RoPS are able to beat, despite having lost away 4-0 to them earlier this season.

Chanda Mwaba returns to RoPS line-up after suspension, but gk Kwon is still suspended and RoPS have to rely on very unexperienced gk K-P Syväjärvi who has not yet succeeded.

MYPA will take a long trip to Lapland without motivation and without key midfielder Antti Okkonen 5/0, their unexperienced strikers may face a task too difficult on the newly renovated artificial pitch at Rovaniemi Center, and perhaps even the Sambian players of RoPS have got used to it by now.


RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 4/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 21/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 18/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 20/2 - 23 Jeremieh Ani 4/2 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 22/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 21/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 16/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 13/1 - 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0
Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 18/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 15/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 6/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 10/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 3/0, 5 White Simwanza 18/0, 10 Chanda Mwaba 20/1, 18 Christopher Musonda 20/3

Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 20/0 suspended,

Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi

MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 21/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 21/1 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 18/5 – 16 Toni Huttunen 22/2 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 21/1 - 5 Jarno Tuunainen 7/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 15/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 21/0 - 7 Ben Webster 19/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 16/5 – 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0

Bench: 15 Ville Oksanen 19/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 14/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 22/2, 24 Nebi Mustafi 12/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 3/0, 19 Maxim Votinov 15/3, 26 Cleiton 4/1
Unavailable: 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0 injured, 25 Antti Okkonen 5/0 suspended
Coach : Janne Lindberg

Betting: RoPS are the last in the league and quite deservedly so. Yet, they are one of the best home teams in the league and as MYPA are missing the only decent player they got through suspension there is value on the team that has motivation, RoPS. MYPA possesses no threat in front of goal.

Jaro - Honka preview 23.09 2009

Jaro (10.) – Honka (3.)
Jaro:1-0-0-1-3-3
Honka :3-1-3-3-0-3


H2H:1-1-8
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 27.05.09 Honka – Jaro 5-1

Jaro fought all three points from TPS by a 1-0 home win, while Honka took a most comfortable home win 2-0 of Haka, who had a total of two shots in the game and both off target. Jaro have not much to play for as a team this season any more, but the players still have work to do to convince the new coach Alexei Eremenko Sr of their abilities in order to secure the place in the team in the future, and a lot of players did a world of good for their future against TPS!

Honka are still within the title race and in the Cup, so the season is far from over but in the thick of it, and as the form is good, players are fit and the squad is full of talent the team is expecting the games eagerly. Important suspended mf Joel Perovuo 22/3 is pretty easily replaced with fresh feet and his absence should not be decisive though they he has been forming the axes of the line-up along with striker defender Rami Hakanpää and striker Hermanni Vuorinen.

Jaro key striker Mikko Hyyrynen 19/3 injured and got subsituted against TPS, the severeness of the injury is not known and he might play. The goal – keeper Markus Koljander 18/0 is out for the rest of the season, but Vitali Teles as a second choice has played well enough. Jani Tanska 20/1 is also still out. The only absent player for Honka is Joel Perovuo and they have a full squad to choose from.

Jaro: 12 Vitali Teles (gk) 5/0 – 6 Janne Vellamo 19/0 - 5 Kristian Kojola 22/2 – 27 Urmas Rooba 3/0 - 7 Marco Matrone 16/1 – 10 Jonas Emet 21/3 – 17 Petter Meyer 21/5 - 18 Mikko Hyyrynen 19/3 – 19 Sebastian Mannström 22/4 – 22 Jens Portin 21/0 – 23 Joonas Laurikainen 22/3

Bench: 30 Jesse Öst 0/0, 11 Jani Koivisto 12/1, 13 Jani Sarajärvi 8/0, 26 Tommi Haanpää 2/0, 9 Björn-Erik Sundqvist 9/1, 16 Papa Niang 20/3, 21 Daniel Fellman 8/0, 20 Tillman Grove 2/0

Unavailable: 8 Jari Sara 0/0, 3 Heikki Aho 8/0, 1 Markus Koljander (gk)18/0 the rest of the season, 2 Jani Tanska 20/1

Coach : Alexei Eremenko Sr

Honka: 1 Tuomas Peltonen 17/0 – 2 Sampo Koskinen 15/0 - 19 Rami Hakanpää 21/2- 3 Roope Heilala 16/1 - 11 Hannu Haarala 13/0 - 28 Rasmus Schuller 15/2 - 20 Nicolas Otaru 19/2 - 26 Jaakko Lepola 14/4 - 17 Demba Savage 20/4 - 6 Hermanni Vuorinen 22/14 - 10 Jami Puustinen 21/5

Bench: 27 Konsta Rasimus 1/0, 12 Janne Henriksson (gk) 6/0, 15 Aleksandr Kokko 16/1, 14 Jussi Vasara 22/6, 7 John Weckström 9/1, 5 Henri Aalto 13/0, 13 Ville Koskimaa 11/1

Out: 8 Markus Paatelainen 0/0 injured, 21 Joel Perovuo 22/3 suspended
Coach: Mika Lehkosuo

Betting: I liked Jaro a lot in the early season, but they lost it during the summer, mostly because of injuries and the insecurity concerning their coaching stuff. They still do miss a couple of players but the new coach has put things right. Honka is my current ranking number 1, but Jaro can cause another surprise. Tempted to take Honka live if the handicap drops to -0,5. So far, no bet, i am studuying the live markets concerning handicaps and totals very closely on this.

TamU - HJK preview 23.09 2009

TamU (5.) – HJK (1.)

TamU: 0-1-0-3-3-3
HJK: 1-1-1-3-3-3


H2H:6-3-10
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.05.09 HJK – TamU 1-0

Despite having sold some key players TamU have produced a lot of good results lately, and last week they won RoPS away 5-1. HJK in turn kept VPS at bay and won easily 2-0 at home and streched their lead in the table to 3 points while TPS lost at Jaro. TamU coach Ari Hjelm has been forced to field their youngsters and reserves, and surprisingly it has done the trick as both the results and performances have improved. HJK is facing one the key matches of the season regarding the title, and as it is their arch rivals of late and also away a cautious approach is to be expected from the HJK coach Antti Muurinen.

This match is traditionally one of the key matches regarding the title, this year only TamU is not in competition but is very eager to slow down HJK´s hopes. TamU current center back Vili Savolainen has made his career in HJK, and Mathias Lindström, the HJK new signing for the same position came from TamU only a few weeks ago due the severe economic crisis at TamU which has forced them to sell players even to their biggest rivals.

Antti Ojanperä 18/1 remains in suspension for TamU, HJK has the full team available except long-term patient Tuomas Haapala.

TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 11/0 - 18 Rafinha 22/6 - 13 Sakari Saarinen 20/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 7/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 19/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 10/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 8/0 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 21/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 21/6 - 30 Jari Niemi 21/1 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 11/1

Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 22/3, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1, 4 Jesse-Juho Kuusisto 6/0, 28 Jaakko Ruuskanen 1/0

Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 5 Antti Ojanperä 18/1 suspended

Coach: Ari Hjelm


HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 22/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 21/0 – 4 Medo 19/3 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 6/2 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 13/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 22/5 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 22/7 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 22/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 21/6 – 11 Mathias Lindström 21/1

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 7/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 21 Petri Oravainen 14/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 17/5, 16 Jarno Parikka 20/3, 8 Ville Taulo 8/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 4/0, 5 Jukka Sauso 19/0

Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0
Coach : Antti Muurinen

Betting: As expected there was value on TamU side. HJK has performed poorly away from home despite good results, but this might be a task too big to handle. TamU + 0,5 @ 2.00 is huge value.

TPS - KuPS preview

TPS (2) – KuPS (12)

TPS: 3-3-3-1-3-0
KuPS: 1-3-3-0-3-3

H2H:8-4-3
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.05.09 KuPS – TPS 0-3

TPS faced some problems last round after a long unbeaten run when losing to in-form Jaro 1-0 away. KuPS continued their good performances and came home from MYPA with a 2-1 away win. TPS dropped to second place in the league but are still fighting of the title along with HJK and Honka. KuPS form has been so good that they are likely to get out any relegation trouble, and there is still the cup to fight for. In the quarter-finals they will host Inter the 1st October.

TPS key player Wayne Brown 22/7 got slightly injured against Jaro and was substituted and now remains a questionmark, his absence would hurt the balance of team hugely. Jaakko Nyberg 19/2 returns to the dfense after suspension.

KuPS was not that convincing against MYPA as it has been at home, but at this point all they care about is collecting enough points for survival. Striker Pele Koljonen is out because of suspension, but otherwise the full team is available. A lot of emphasis has been put on the new signings KuPS have made, but the most significant factor in their survival has been the coach Esa Pekonen who took charge of the team in the summer and starting building the team through defense and started gaining them self-confidence via improved results, at today´s KuPS there are no weak links.


TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 21/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 21/0 – 34 Jussi Kujala 21/3 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 19/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 22/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 22/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 21/1 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 21/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 22/6 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 21/7 - 21 Wayne Brown 22/7

Bench: 3 Kalle Mäkinen 0/0, 11 Mika Ääritalo 12/3, 17 Roope Riski 0/0, 29 Yll Hoxha 8/0, 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, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 19/4, 18 Chris Cleaver 18/0, 4 Igor Jovanovic 5/0

Out: 5 Simo Valakari 7/0

Coach: Pasi Rautiainen


KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 19/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 22/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 21/3 - 9 Balazs Balogh 16/1 - 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 17/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 16/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 6/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 20/6 - 15 Ollo 17/2 - 7 Miikka Turunen 20/2 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 7/3

Bench: 17 Jussi Kolari 0/0, 24 Atte Hoivala 10/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0, 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 7/0, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 4/0, 3 Janne Reinikainen 17/0, 18 Ville Strandman 5/0, 19 Juho Karppinen 3/2

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season, 21 Jesse Miettinen 0/0, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0, 4 Patrik Turunen 14/0, 11 Pele Koljonen 18/5 suspended

Coach: Esa Pekonen

Betting: A serious test for both teams. Under normal circunstances KuPS would not even dream of getting anything out of this, but they are in form and full of self-confidence, and TPS showed to be humans after all and were brought back to earth at Jaro. They are not a super team, and are under pressure. KuPS with a big handicap is my choice.

VPS - Inter preview 23.09.2009

VPS (9.) – Inter (6.)
VPS: 3-3-0-3-0-0
Inter: 3-0-0-1-3-3


H2H:5-4-11
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.05.09 Inter – VPS 0-1

Last round VPS lost to HJK away very expectedly 2-0 while Inter thrashed JJK 3-0 at home. The home team does not too much at stake anymore this season, they are out of Cup, have no relegation worries and will not achieve anything in the league and it shows on the pitch. Inter have still a slight chance for a top position in the league, they are in the Cup and have also a revenge in mind as they lost to VPS at home in May this season.

Juha Reini, an assistant coach and sports director is about to leave VPS because he did not accept some of the contracts made for future seasons thus leaving Petri Vuorinen being solely responsible for the first team.

VPS have no injury worries physically, but mentally the team is not anymore in full fitness as there is nothing to play for.

Inter might introduce a new signing in the midfield for this game if the paperwork has been completed in the the transfer of Argentinian Martin Civit. Goal-keeper Patrick Bantamoi 18/0 might be rested because of a injury for his thumb, and Ville Nikkari 12/0 is expected to return after recovering from illness. Striker Guillamo Grot 15/3 is still suspended.

VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 18/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 22/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 17/0 – 19 Jan Berg 22/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 18/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 20/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 22/3 - 22 Tony Björk 22/2 - 10 Antonio Inutile 21/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 21/1 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 15/2

Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 15/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 17/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 6/0, 21 Arttu Seppälä 2/1,16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 11 Toni Hahto 12/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0

Coach: Petri Vuorinen


Inter Turku: 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0 – 6 Jermu Gustafsson 7/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 22/0 – 11 Timo Furuholm 20/11 – 14 Joni Aho 19/2 – 18 Ats Purje 17/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 22/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 19/4 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 20/1 - 29 Henri Lehtonen 21/1 - 27 Kennedy 19/2

Bench: 8 Touko Tumanto 10/0, 13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0, 12 David Monsalve (gk) 3/0, 19 Aristides Pertot 14/0, 22 Sami Sanevuori 14/0, 24 Joni Kauko 17/2, 3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 12/0, Martin Civit?
Out: 9 Guillano Grot 15/3 suspended
Coach: Job Dragtsma

Betting: Nothing supports the idea of backing VPS, and the odds for Inter are not that attractive either. No bet yet.

Bjorns bicycle got stolen!

You remember the story about the Norwegian guy cycling from Oslo to South-Africa for charity purposes?

Well, seems to be he got stuck in Amsterdam for a while as his precious bike got stolen.


If you have not yet read the story please do, it is about connecting the football family and not forgetting the ones less fortunate than we are.

http://www.theshirt2010.net/

So, in perspective, losing a couple of bets every now and then is not that bad, there are also people out there who do not have the luxury to that. A cup of fresh water might suffice.

EDIT: So he got a new bike, and down below he is celebrating that with his new best friend in Dam!

HJK - VPS preview

HJK (1st) – VPS (9th)

HJK: 1-1-1-1-3-3
VPS: 0-3-3-0-3-0
H2H:16-3-1!
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 1.7.09 VPS – HJK 3-4

The head to head statistics tell almost all of this; VPS have won once out of 20 games and even that was at home, they have never won in Helsinki. At this point they have nothing to play for anymore this season as there is no danger of relegation and no chance of the top spots, they are also out of the Cup having lost at home to a second division team Jazz. Last week in the league they lost at home to MYPA 0-2.

HJK are leading the table by a goal-difference to TPS and only a victory is enough for the team and the fans, and HJK is that big club in Finland that they always aim for gold. Last week they won RoPS at home, but it was far as comfortable as the score 4-0 suggests, and they got the match killed not until the RoPS gk was sent out in the last minutes of the game.

The good news for HJK is that there are no more injury worries and the only absentee is long-term patient Tuomas Haapala, also the transfer of Jukka Raitala to TSG Hoffenheim was replaced by the signing of Mathias Lindström from TamU, though he does not exatly play the same position in the defence.

The game is televised at 16.00 CET.

HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 21/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 20/0 – 4 Medo 18/3 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 5/2 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 12/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 21/5 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 21/6 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 21/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 20/5 – 11 Mathias Lindström 21/1

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 6/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 21 Petri Oravainen 13/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 16/5, 16 Jarno Parikka 20/3, 8 Ville Taulo 8/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 3/0, 5 Jukka Sauso 18/0

Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0
Coach : Antti Muurinen

VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 17/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 21/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 16/0 – 19 Jan Berg 21/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 17/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 19/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 21/3 - 22 Tony Björk 21/2 - 10 Antonio Inutile 20/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 20/1 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 14/2

Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 14/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 16/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 6/0, 21 Arttu Seppälä 2/1,16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 11 Toni Hahto 12/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0

Coaches: Juha Reini & Petri Vuorinen

Betting: A home win. More info perhaps on the match day. The only setback for HJK is that they are going to play Kansikas as a left back and I would personally go past him. Update: No bet. Easy win to be expected, but I just do not trust HJK to win by a margin, which they surely are capable of. They have lost points against lesser teams at home this season, JJK.

MYPA - KuPS preview

MYPA (8th) – KuPS (12th)
MYPA: 0-3-0-1-3-3
KuPS: 1-1-3-3-0-3

H2H:11-2-5
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 13.06.09 KuPS – MYPA 1-3

MYPA have finally got some wins under their belt after winning both VPS and JJK in the last two rounds. The key element to this has been the return of Antti Okkonen to the midfield. Last time they met KuPS it was in the Cup at MYPA, and it was one of the first occasions were the new KuPS were to be seen and they returned to Kuopio with a 1-3 surprise win.

KuPS look like a totally different team compared to the start of the season, and if the win against RoPS had not been doomed to be a loss in the cabinets after a RoPS protest they would almost be safe by now. The key factor to this resurrection has been the Nigerian striker Dickson who is very unlikely to continue in Finland after this season and looks set for a bigger league. He has almost self-handedly destroyed Haka and HJK in the latest rounds, and helped the whole team to gain back the self-confidence needed in this level. The defense is also solid and the goal-keeper Ville Iiskola has proved to be a useful stopper after all.

Nevertheless, this match is important to KuPS only. MYPA might lack a bit of motivation for the rest of the season, and KuPS are likely to look a bit nervous so the first goal has an important role.
The only absentee for MYPA is a long-term absentee Sampsa Timoska 8/0, the Kuopio side need to do without suspended striker Pele Koljonen 18/5.



MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 20/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 21/1 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 17/4 – 16 Toni Huttunen 21/2 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 20/1 - 25 Antti Okkonen 4/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 14/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 20/0 - 7 Ben Webster 19/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 16/5 – 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0

Bench: 5 Jarno Tuunainen 6/0, 15 Ville Oksanen 18/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 13/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 21/2, 24 Nebi Mustafi 12/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 2/0, 19 Maxim Votinov 14/3, 26 Cleiton 3/1
Unavailable: 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0 injured,
Coach : Janne Lindberg

KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 18/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 21/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 20/3 - 9 Balazs Balogh 15/1- 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 17/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 15/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 5/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 19/6 - 15 Ollo 16/2 - 7 Miikka Turunen 19/2 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 6/2

Bench: 17 Jussi Kolari 0/0, 24 Atte Hoivala 9/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0, 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 6/0, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 4/0, 3 Janne Reinikainen 17/0, 18 Ville Strandman 5/0, 19 Juho Karppinen 2/1

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season, 21 Jesse Miettinen 0/0, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0, 4 Patrik Turunen 14/0, 11 Pele Koljonen 18/5 suspended

Coach: Esa Pekonen

Bettingwise there is a lot to think about. Tomorrow or Sunday maybe some calculations. Update: The bookies have reacted correctly to the good form of KuPS and quite right decided that it is permanent. There might be a tad of value on KuPS with a handicap, especially +0,25, but I skip this for now.

Inter - JJK preview

Inter (7th) – JJK (13th)

Inter: 3-3-0-0-1-3
JJK : 3-0-1-0-0-0

H2H:1-0-1
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 18.07.09 JJK – Inter 1-0

Inter has time for a revenge after a humiliating loss at JJK in July. The season for Inter has been far from expected, but last week against Honka they finally seemed to have gotten their act together and returned home to Turku with a 2-3 win in their bag. Inter coach Job Dragtsma has decided to give the player he hoped the most, the center-back Claudio Verino no more playing time as he failed big time, and slowly the performances have improved. Unfortunately for Inter they are too far behinf in the league and they can concentrate in making the life miserable for the other teams, not forgetting the Cup.

JJK have lost their self-confindence and without it the team is a sorry sight. The defence is shaky, midfield uncreative and strikers out-of-form. Even the manager seems to have lost the plot and has been making changes in the line-up that surely have surprised everyone but not produced any results. JJK lost at home to Jaro 0-2 and they look like they are doomed, but they are onlt 1 point behind the latest spot in the safety and anything can still happen.

Guillano Grot 15/3 is the only absentee for Inter, JJK lost important Tommi Kari 19/4 due suspension.

Inter Turku: 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0 – 6 Jermu Gustafsson 7/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 21/0 – 11 Timo Furuholm 19/10 – 14 Joni Aho 18/1 – 18 Ats Purje 16/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 21/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 18/3 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 19/1 - 29 Henri Lehtonen 20/1 - 27 Kennedy 18/2

Bench: 8 Touko Tumanto 9/0, 21 Pablo Gomez-Marttila 0/0, 25 Ville Mäkilä 0/0, 26 Felix Åkerlund 0/0, 13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0, 12 David Monsalve (gk) 2/0, 19 Aristides Pertot 13/0, 22 Sami Sanevuori 13/0, 24 Joni Kauko 16/2, 3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 12/0
Out: 9 Guillano Grot 15/3 suspended
Coach: Job Dragtsma


JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 19/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 4/0 - 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 19/7 – 7 Anssi Viren 19/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 21/4 – 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 4/0 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 20/0 – 19 Christian Sund 18/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 20/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 10/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 7/1

Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 14/0, 18 Zakaria Abahassine 14/0, 3 Janne Hannula 14/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 12/0, 15 Antto Tapaninen 2/0

Out: 21 Toni Koskela 17/0 for the rest of the season, 10 Tommi Kari 19/4 suspended

Coach: Ville Priha

Betting: A home win. Actually I finally took inter -1.5 @ 2.16 as JJK has been really toothless lately, well throughout the season to be honest, and anyone should be able to score 3-4 goals against them. All of this of course leads to believe that this is overish.

Jaro - TPS preview

FF Jaro (10th) – TPS (2nd)

Jaro:0-1-0-0-1-3
TPS: 1-3-3-3-1-3
H2H:8-3-6
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 4.5.09 TPS – Jaro 1-1

Jaro have found their form after changing the coach to Alexei Eremenko Sr two rounds ago, only to find themselves in a position where they are hosting the league leaders without a goal-keeper and center-back. Last round Jaro won JJK away comfortably by 0-2, and TPS took an even more convincing home victory against FC Lahti 5-2. In the first round at Turku Jaro snitched a point, and if the team have learned anything from the new coach yet this is not going to be a walk in the park for TPS Turku.

TPS have been extremely lucky with their fitness and short injury list during the season, that being one key factor to their success this season. Another one is Wayne Brown 21/7, who extended his loan contract from Fulham for the rest of the season to help TPS to win the league.

TPS coach Pasi Rautiainen is excited about the football fever in Turku,” It is magnificent! People talk about TPS and football and stop me wherever I go, the stadium is fully booked and people really show their support. I can promise them that we are going to give everything we got.”

Jaro are missing first choice gk Markus Koljander 18/0 and Jani Tanska 20/1 and some long-term absentees, the only worry for TPS is suspended center-back Jaakko Nyberg 19/2.

Jaro: 12 Vitali Teles (gk) 4/0 – 6 Janne Vellamo 18/0 - 5 Kristian Kojola 21/2 – 27 Urmas Rooba 2/0 - 20 Tillman Grove 2/0 – 10 Jonas Emet 20/3 – 17 Petter Meyer 20/4 - 18 Mikko Hyyrynen 18/3 – 19 Sebastian Mannström 21/4 – 22 Jens Portin 20/0 – 23 Joonas Laurikainen 21/3

Bench: 30 Jesse Öst 0/0, 11 Jani Koivisto 11/1, 13 Jani Sarajärvi 7/0, 26 Tommi Haanpää 2/0, 9 Björn-Erik Sundqvist 9/1, 16 Papa Niang 19/3, 7 Marco Matrone 15/1, 21 Daniel Fellman 8/0

Unavailable: 8 Jari Sara 0/0, 3 Heikki Aho 8/0, 1 Markus Koljander (gk)18/0 the rest of the season, 2 Jani Tanska 20/1

Coach : Alexei Eremenko Sr


TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 19/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 20/0 –34 Jussi Kujala 20/3 - 4 Igor Jovanovic 4/0 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 21/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 21/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 20/1 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 20/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 21/6 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 20/7 - 21 Wayne Brown 21/7

Bench: 3 Kalle Mäkinen 0/0, 11 Mika Ääritalo 11/3, 17 Roope Riski 0/0, 29 Yll Hoxha 8/0, 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, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 18/4, 18 Chris Cleaver 17/0

Out: 5 Simo Valakari 7/0, 6 Jaakko Nyberg 19/2

Coach: Pasi Rautiainen

Bettingwise this is maybe not that easy for TPS than people seem to think. No bets yet. Update: If some one twisted my arm and I had to take a bet it would be Jaro +1. TPS are a quality team ,but as Jaro is back on business and playing at home without any pressure but to show their manager what they can do it would be a natural low-risk choice. No bet from me however today.

MIFK - FC Lahti preview

IFK Mariehamn (4th) – FC Lahti (11th)

MIFK:1-1-3-3-1-0
Lahti: 1-3-0-0-0-0
H2H:1-5-7
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 14.06.09 Lahti – MIFK 1-1

IFK Mariehamn are first time this season under any pressure result-wise as now they seriously need win to fight for the 3rd spot. Having lost against Tampere United 1-0 away their dreams of even better success have gone, but there are gloomy faces in Mariehamn. ” We have been practisinf goal-scoring a lot lately. We have not won the games we should have because we have not scored enough, ” says IFK striker Sasha Anttilainen and continues, ” but we are not unhappy and there is no one else to blame. Our season has been a success so far and we are quite happy.”

FC Lahti have very little to play for in the league and all their plans for the rest of the season lie in the cup where they are more or less qualified for the final four after being drawn a second division team home for the next season. Lahti are resting their key players a lot, rotating the goal-keepers and looking for the future, but they are by no means an easy team to beat despite having lost 5-2 at TPS last week.

The only absentee for the home team is the suspended Johan Carlsson 17/1, Lahti have their captain Jukka Vanninen 19/1 suspended and a lot of injured and doubtful players, but they are likely to introduce some fresh faces anyway.



MIFK : 29 Gustav Långbacka 21/0 - 24 Mate Dujilo 17/1 - 6 Marcus Olofsson 20/3 – 22 Alexandros Pappas 20/0 – 23 Paulus Arajuuri 18/1 – 8 Kenneth Gustavsson 18/2 - 9 Ante Simunac 17/3 – 10 Tamás Gruborovics 20/5 – 15 Amos Ekhalie 10/0 – 30 Sasha Anttilainen 11/1 - 26 Wilhelm Ingves 19/3
Bench: 1 Willis Ochieng (gk) 1/0, 2 Dmytro Voloshyn 8/0, 18 Dmytro Pronevych 3/0, 11 Mika Niskala 19/1, 14 Arsim Gashi 18/1
Unavailable: 4 Johan Carlsson 17/1 suspended

Coach : Pekka Lyyski

FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 13/0 – 3 Henri Toivomäki 19/0 – 23 Jarkko Värttö 1/0 - 12 Toni Huuhka 17/1– 6 Kalle Eerola 18/0 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 19/4 - 9 Rafael 19/4 – 11 Drilon Shala 21/6 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 20/0 – 19 Riku Heini 14/0 - 17 Eero Korte 21/2
Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 9/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 8/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 18/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 11/2, 5 Jari Holopainen 1/0, Juho-Matti Heikari 2/0

Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 7/0, 15 Jukka Vanninen 19/1 suspended, 10 Jari Litmanen 11/0 and 2 Heikki Haara 17/1 doubtful

Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä

Betting: It would be a sure home win if IFK had any decent strikers as Lahti have had to rebuild their defence. Now it is all in the open and I have a hunch of a o 2.5 despite the lack of strike-force for the home team, as the away team has plenty of in the form of Shala and Rafael.

Honka - Haka preview

Honka (3rd) – Haka ( 6th)

EDIT: There was a price of 1.99 for Honka - 1 Asian Handicap and it really should not last long, I was afraid they would offer -1.5 with smaller odds, but obviously the odds are based on standings, not performances and team quality. In my current ranking Honka is 1st and Haka 11th, last time Haka won a game was against MYPA when they were at the poorest, and it was a long long time ago.


Honka :3-3-1-3-3-0
Haka: 1-0-1-1-1-0

H2H: 4-2-5
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 4.5.09 Haka – Honka 1-1

FC Honka suffered a serious blow for their hopes for championship last week when they lost surpisingly to Inter 2-3 at home. Haka have had a lot more problems lately and their winless run streches to 9 matches back, and last week they got badly beaten in Kuopio by 5-1. Haka surely remembers last season´s visit to Honka very well after being thrashed by 7-0. ”Honka will come like a storm, ” says Haka newly appointed player-manager Sami Ristilä, ” we need to eliminate their strenghts. Fortunately our injury list is shortish now, including only me, Corpache and striker Niko Ikävalko.”

Honka is now 5 points behind the leaders with 5 matches to go and winning the title is not in their own hands, but they are also still in the cup and will face an easy 3rd division team in the quarter finals, so there is still a lot to play for this season. There are no absentees for the home team.

Honka: 1 Tuomas Peltonen 16/0 – 20 Nicolas Otaru 18/2 - 13 Ville Koskimaa 10/1 - 5 Henri Aalto 13/0 - 6 Hermanni Vuorinen 21/14 - 28 Rasmus Schuller 14/2 - 10 Jami Puustinen 20/5 - 26 Jaakko Lepola 14/4 - 17 Demba Savage 19/4 - 19 Rami Hakanpää 20/2 – 21 Joel Perovuo 21/3

Bench: 27 Konsta Rasimus 1/0, 12 Janne Henriksson (gk) 6/0, 15 Aleksandr Kokko 15/0, 11 Hannu Haarala 12/0, 3 Roope Heilala 16/1, 14 Jussi Vasara 21/5, 7 John Weckström 8/1, 2 Sampo Koskinen 14/0

Out: 8 Markus Paatelainen 0/0 injured
Coach: Mika Lehkosuo

Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 21/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 10/0 - 3 Petri Viljanen 13/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 17/5 - 22 Jarno Mattila 21/1 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 20/6 - 7 Mikko Innanen 21/2 - 11 Antti Hynynen 19/5 - 41 Valeri Minkenen 11/0 - 8 Jani Kauppila 21/1 - 17 Kalle Multanen 1/0

Bench: 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 17/0, 10 Mika Mäkitalo 18/2, 19 Juuso Salonen 4/0, 26 Jhon Cagua 1/0, 5 Kalle Parviainen 0/0

Out:, 2 Diego Corpache 15/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 16/2, 9 Niko Ikävalko 18/3

Coach: Sami Ristilä


Yes, this will be a home win. I can see Honka creating some 25-30 goal chances and an easy home win in my books. In the straight win there is not that much value, but remembering how aggressively Honka start the games this might be the place to look for 1st half winner or totals for the first half.

RoPS - TamU preview

RoPS (14th) – TamU (5th)

RoPS: 0-0-0-1-0-0
TamU: 1-0-1-0-3-3
H2H:3-2-11
Last game in Veikkausliiga:17.6.09 TamU – RoPS 3-1

RoPS will probably continue with playing two strikers up as Mweetwa has formed a dangerous pair with new recruit Ani. Last week in Helsinki RoPS was not at all that bad as the ft score of 4-0 might suggest, but the red card for gk Kwon at 1-0 showed to be crucial and the substituted gk Syväjärvi managed to concede three goals in a very little time.

RoPS are last in the league occupying the relegation spot, and with only five matches to go they really need to start producing also results, the promising performances are not enough. Their last win was over two months ago, and this match on their renewed home pitch is of most importance.

”Forget the pretty play now, this is war and only about results, ” remind RoPS coach Mika Lumijärvi.

TamU did sell two of their key players to rival clubs TPS and HJK in desperate need of money, yet they did win IFK Mariehamn 1-0 at home after a well-spirited fight despite having to field youngsters in new positions on the pitch, for example Ilari Ruuth who has been been struggling as a left back found himself as a center back, but despite all the fears at TamU camp he and the whole team did much better than expected. Another key player missing from this trip to Lapland is Antti Ojanperä 18/1 who got sent out against IFK Mariehamn.

The league has been very even, and though TamU have been poor and injury-ridden for all the seasonb they still have a chance for the euro spots as also other clubs have lost a lot of points during the season. ”There is some cup feeling as the game is very important for both teams, ” says TamU coach Ari Hjelm, ” we lost another player in the battle against MIFK but we are not giving up.”

RoPS have gk Kwom 20/0 and Mwaba 20/1 suspended, Musonda 20/3 and Ville Syväjärvi 16/0 are doubtful.

Tamu have only suspended Antti Ojanperä 18/1 to add to the list of absentees.

RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 3/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 21/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 17/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 19/2 - 23 Jeremieh Ani 3/2 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 21/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 20/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 15/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 12/0 - 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0
Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 17/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 14/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 5/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 10/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 2/0, 5 White Simwanza 17/0
Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 20/0 suspended, 10 Chanda Mwaba 20/1 suspended, 18 Christopher Musonda 20/3

Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi

TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 10/0 - 18 Rafinha 21/4 -13 Sakari Saarinen 19/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 6/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 18/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 9/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 7/0 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 20/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 20/4 - 30 Jari Niemi 20/0 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 10/1

Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 21/3, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1, 4 Jesse-Juho Kuusisto 5/0, 28 Jaakko Ruuskanen 1/0

Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 5 Antti Ojanperä 18/1 suspended

Coach: Ari Hjelm

Bettingwise a tough nut, have not checked the odds yet. Both have a lot of problems and huge motivation, and a point is not really satisfactory to eithe of the teams. Looks overish to me.

Future changes in the service?

Hi all,

You have probably noticed that there have been less public picks and they are also being published later than before.

Though I run a free service and reading my stuff and following the bets is advisable there are some instances who shamelessly copy and sell my stuff.

How rude is that?

Those bastards are not only making me sad, but doing a lot of damage for the others who are interested and well-behaved people just wanting to know more because it discourages me to publish anything that might be valuable to them.

I have been trying to be interactive and also reply to inquiries made by msn or mail, I have noticed that my articles have also been republished on some forums, and as there has usually been also a link to the original source it is also 100 % fine. You can do that.

Obviously I knew that this was likely to happen and I have been told about who these scammers are. It is flattering of course, but also untolerable.

Have to think what to do to prevent this,

but meanwhile back to analyzing weekend matches.

Good luck to everyone,

Puntteri

Finland U17 today against Estonia

12.00 CET in Helsinki

Finland are huge favourites, I am trying to see if I can get some livebets for that.

Finland today;

Jesse Joronen, Fulham FC
Santeri Aaltonen, SalPa
Johannes Nordström, IFK Mariehamn
Mikko-Petteri Latosaari, Haka
Kalle Laaksonen, FC Honka
Peetu Lepistö, FC Honka
Patrick O’Shaughnessy, HJK
Miikka Salonen, HyPS
Joni Mäkelä, OLS
Antti Mäkijärvi, FC Honka
Tim Väyrynen, FC Honka
Jani Jokinen, FC Honka
Kevin Mombilo, HJK
Nikolai Alho, HJK
Jusu Karvonen, Ilves
Aleksi Paananen, KuPS
Jussi Perttula, MyPa
Albinot Bekaj, HJK

EDIT: FT 3-0. To be honest I was expecting a few goals more but the difference in class is about 3.5 goals. Finnish goalkeeper, Fulham professional Jesse Joronen did not have much to do but his presence was intimidating for the Estonians, oh well, he did save a penalty.

Another gems today were the always solid Patrick O`Shaughnessy as a center back and Antti Mäkijärvi with two magnificent goals.

The only Estonian that would be good enough was number 9 whose name I did unfortunately did not catch.

Veikkausliiga picks

I am on internet cafe and do not even want to try open my bookies here,

wort a thought are

MYPA
Jaro
KuPS
MIFK

Bsck in business next week

Forgot to publish Veikkausliiga previews

ervedly so. VPS played awful football, lacked creativity and were shaky in the defence and they were in fact the worse of the teams on the pitch.





In the last league game VPS got a 2-3 away win at Rovaniemi against RoPS, with a late minute winner.

VPS did loan out promising midfielder Petteri Forsell to Kakkonen team Virkiä, and during the international break the players with minor injuries have fully recovered.





MYPA took a most welcomed home win in the expense of poor JJK Jyväskylä by 4-0 last Friday. The result is a bit flattering for MYPA, as JJK was well within the game until the first goal at the end of the first half. The second goal was too much for the visiting side and the rest was just cosmetics. MYPA coach Janne Lindberg was relieved after the game,” It was a good and relaxed game from us. We have had scoring problems and this time our efforts were rewarded, and hopefully it helps us also in the games in the future.”




MYPA have been moving players to and from their reserve teams, but of the key players only Sampsa Timoska´s 8/0 injury is significant.




VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 16/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 20/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 15/0 – 19 Jan Berg 20/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 16/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 18/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 20/3 - 22 Tony Björk 20/2 - 10 Antonio Inutile 19/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 19/1 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 14/2


Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 13/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 15/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 6/0, 21 Arttu Seppälä 1/1 (on loan from Inter Turku) 16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 11 Toni Hahto 12/0


Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0, 17 Juho Alasuutari 4/0 left the team and returned to YPA at Kakkonen, 6 Petteri Forsell 12/1, loan to Virkiä at Kakkonen for the rest of the season




Coaches: Juha Reini & Petri Vuorinen







MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 18/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 19/0 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 15/4 – 16 Toni Huttunen 19/1 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 18/0 - 25 Antti Okkonen 2/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 13/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 18/0 - 7 Ben Webster 18/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 14/5 – 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0





Bench: 5 Jarno Tuunainen 4/0, 15 Ville Oksanen 16/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 12/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 19/1, 24 Nebi Mustafi 12/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 2/0, 19 Maxim Votinov 13/2, 26 Cleiton 1/0

Unavailable:22 Roope Rautiainen 0/0 on loan to MP, 17 Einari Kurittu 1/0 on loan to MP, 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0 injured, 23 Niko Nakari 6/0 on loan to FC Kuusankoski

Coach : Janne Lindberg









FC Honka - FC Inter




Honka :1-3-3-1-3-3

Inter: 0-3-3-0-0-1

H2H:1-6-4

Last game in Veikkausliiga:1.6.09 Inter – Honka 2-1




Honka face their arch rivals Inter Turku in a very important match in which Honka need to win to keep their hopes of the championship alive. The mutual history games show that Inter have been almost impossible to beat so far, and one of the two lost matches this season was away at Inter.

Honka have been charging batteries during the break and even took almost a week off the training giving their players some breathing space. The form of the team is excellent, the players are in fit and healthy and Honka decided to unload some of their stuff to other teams in hope of some valuable match time. Striker Jani Bäckman was loaned to Klubi 04 and defender Jarkko Värttö is helping FC Lahti in their injury-struck situation.





In their last matches Honka have shown their goal-scoring abilities, in the cup they won TPS away 2-6 after extra-time, and in the league they taught JJK a lesson by 5-2 at home.





Inter Turku have had a difficult season after last season´s surprise Championship and though some signs here and there their new recruits were not able to fill the boots of last season´s key players Chatto and Hooiveld who are now building their careers in Sweden. In the league they are 10 points behind the top teams TPS and HJK, and it would require a miracle to finish in the top-three.





Inter forced their way to the final 8 in the Finland Cup, and this remains the easiest way to European competition for next season, and as that has been the target for the team they will probably focus more in the cup game away at KuPS on the 1st of October than risking their players in the insignificant matches in the league.

Unless there were bad news in the U21- matches (Finland played Holland and Poland away) during the week Inter have no major injuries to worry about.


Honka: 1 Tuomas Peltonen 15/0 – 20 Nicolas Otaru 17/2 - 13 Ville Koskimaa 10/1 - 5 Henri Aalto 13/0 - 6 Hermanni Vuorinen 20/14 -28 Rasmus Schuller 13/2 - 10 Jami Puustinen 19/4 - 26 Jaakko Lepola 14/4 - 17 Demba Savage 18/4 - 19 Rami Hakanpää 19/2 – 21 Joel Perovuo 20/3





Bench: 27 Konsta Rasimus 1/0, 12 Janne Henriksson (gk) 6/0, 15 Aleksandr Kokko 14/0, 11 Hannu Haarala 11/0, 3 Roope Heilala 15/0, 14 Jussi Vasara 20/5, 7 John Weckström 7/1, 2 Sampo Koskinen 13/0





Out: 8 Markus Paatelainen 0/0 injured, Jani Bäckman 9/1 loaned to Klubi-04 for the rest of the season, defender Jarkkö Värttö 0/0 loaned to FC Lahti


Coach: Mika Lehkosuo









Inter Turku: 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0 – 6 Jermu Gustafsson 6/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 20//0 – 9 Guillano Grot 14/3 – 11 Timo Furuholm 18/9 – 14 Joni Aho 17/1 – 18 Ats Purje 16/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 20/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 17/2 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 18/1 - 29 Henri Lehtonen 19/1





Bench: 8 Touko Tumanto 9/0, 21 Pablo Gomez-Marttila 0/0, 27 Kennedy 17/1, 25 Ville Mäkilä 0/0, 26 Felix Åkerlund 0/0, 13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0, 12 David Monsalve (gk) 1/0, 19 Aristides Pertot 12/0, 22 Sami Sanevuori 12/0, 24 Joni Kauko 16/2, 3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 11/0





Out: 20 Arttu Seppälä 1/0 loan to VPS for the rest of the season





Coach: Job Dragtsma













TamU - IFK Mariehamn





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

MIFK:1-1-1-3-3-1

H2H:4-3-3

Last game in Veikkausliiga:31.5.09 IFK Mariehamn – TamU 1-0





TamU have been in turmoil the whole season and there have been talks of going bankrupt all the time. Now some of the fears have materialized, the players and everyone else´s fees were cut and for those who did not agree an option was given, going elsewhere. Two of the key players wanted new challenges for the rest of the season and are looking for gold in the top teams, defender Mathias Lindström got sold to HJK Helsinki and midfielder Jussi Kujala is now a player for TPS Turku.

TamU have little to play for in the league and selling the best players surely does not help, but in the Cup they face local rivals Haka and something to play for the rest of the season, if they still exist that is. In the last round they got an undeserved away win at KuPS, but against IFK the challenge is a lot bigger, like a mountain to climb.





IFK Mariehamn are still almost undefeated in the league, the away loss to HJK in May being their only game lost so far, and traditionally they did not take part in the cup at all. During the break IFK have tested a couple of new players but have not made any decisions yet, and they played a friendly against Allsvenskan side Gefle IF and lost 1-0. The good news was that Dmytro Pronevych has recovered almost full match-fitness and played for the first time this season since April.





IFK continue in the top and are eager to take on TamU and the other established top teams in the league in the final rounds and everything is still possible for the Islanders. No injuries for IFK at this point, the second choice goal-keeper Willis Ochieng has been out with the Kenian national team during the break.








TamU: Mikko Kavén (gk) 9/0 - 18 Rafinha 20/4 -13 Sakari Saarinen 18/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 5/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 17/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 8/0 - 5 Antti Ojanperä 18/1 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 19/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 19/4 - 30 Jari Niemi 19/0 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 9/1




Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 20/2, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 14 Jusu Karvonen 6/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1,




Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 20 Juska Savolainen 15/1 (return to Rosenborg) 3 Mathias Lindström 19/1 sold to HJK, 7 Jussi Kujala 18/2 sold to TPS




Coach: Ari Hjelm







MIFK : 29 Gustav Långbacka 20/0 - 24 Mate Dujilo 16/1 - 6 Marcus Olofsson 19/3 – 22 Alexandros Pappas 19/0 – 23 Paulus Arajuuri 18/1 – 8 Kenneth Gustavsson 17/2 - 9 Ante Simunac 17/3 – 10 Tamás Gruborovics 20/5 – 15 Amos Ekhalie 9/0 – 30 Sasha Anttilainen 10/1- 26 Wilhelm Ingves 18/3

Bench: 1 Willis Ochieng (gk) 1/0, 2 Dmytro Voloshyn 8/0, 4 Johan Carlsson 16/1, 18 Dmytro Pronevych 2/0, 11 Mika Niskala 16/1, 14 Arsim Gashi 17/1

Unavailable:-




Coach : Pekka Lyyski









JJK - FF Jaro








JJK : 1-3-0-1-0-0

Jaro:1-0-1-0-0-1




H2H:0-0-1

Last game in Veikkausliiga:31.05.09 Jaro – JJK 5-1

JJK are facing the truth in the final rounds. Their material is not good enough for survival and to stay in the league they need a bit of luck and a lot of fighting spirit. They did not have enough of either at the hands of MYPA in the rescheduled match last week, and they had to travel home with a 4-0 to think about.





Midfielder Toni Koskela is facing a career-threatening knee operation, but otherwise they no injuru worries, Niko Kautto, Sami Myllymäki and Niko Markkula will play the rest of the season at Kakkonen team FCJ Blackbird.





Jaro won last time in the league 14.6 home against RoPS, which means they have played 10 games without a win since then. Firing the coach and replacing him with a Jaro – legend Alexei Eremenko Sr thus came as no surprise to no one, and he started his coaching career with a goalless draw at MYPA. After that they have had a couple of weeks to get to know each other, learn new strategies and concentrate on the mental side to get ready for the final six rounds. Jaro are not seriously in danger of relegation, but if they lose a couple of games things might change dramatically and the away game at JJK is an important one to keep a relaxed atmosphere in the team.







JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 17/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 2/0 - 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 18/7 – 7 Anssi Viren 18/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 19/3 – 10 Tommi Kari 17/4 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 18/0 – 19 Christian Sund 17/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 18/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 9/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 6/1




Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 14/0, 18 Zakaria Abahassine 13/0, 3 Janne Hannula 12/0, 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 3/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 10/0, 15 Antto Tapaninen 0/0




Out: 21 Toni Koskela 17/0 , 24 Niko Kautto 0/0 loan to FCJ, 17 Hyun-Kwan Kim 4/0 left the team, 4 Markus Paija 7/0 left the team for KaaPo, 16 Niko Markkula 7/0 loan to FCJ, 12 Sami Myllymäki gk 0/0 on loan to FCJ




Coach: Ville Priha










Jaro: 1 Markus Koljander 17/0 – 6 Janne Vellamo 17/0 - 5 Kristian Kojola 20/2 – 2 Jani Tanska 20/1 - 20 Tillman Grove 2/0 – 10 Jonas Emet 19/3 – 17 Petter Meyer 19/3 - 18 Mikko Hyyrynen 18/3 – 19 Sebastian Mannström 20/4 – 22 Jens Portin 19/0 – 23 Joonas Laurikainen 20/3

Bench: 30 Jesse Öst 0/0, 11 Jani Koivisto 11/1, 13 Jani Sarajärvi 6/0, 26 Tommi Haanpää 2/0, 12 Vitali Teles (gk) 2/0, 9 Björn-Erik Sundqvist 8/1, 27 Urmas Rooba 1/0, 16 Papa Niang 18/2, 7 Marco Matrone 14/1, 21 Daniel Fellman 8/0

Unavailable: 8 Jari Sara 0/0, 3 Heikki Aho 8/0




Coach : Alexei Eremenko Sr











HJK - RoPS

HJK: 1-1-1-1-3

RoPS: 3-0-0-0-1-0

H2H:12-3-3

Last game in Veikkausliiga:31.05.09 RoPS – HJK 1-0




HJK started the season as the biggest favourite, and they occupy the top spot with TPS when there are six rounds to play. HJK have suffered the whole season with injuries in the midfield and the captain Tuomas Haapala has missed most of the season. HJK got an important player for center defence in Mathias Lindström, who transferred from TamU for the rest of season.




In their last league game HJK got finally a win away at Lahti after a long spell of draws, but in the cup KuPS proved to be too much to handle and kicked HJK out of the cup.




Haapala 6/0 is still out injured and HJK also need to build the defence anew as the left defender Jukka Raitala who has played all the games is due to a transfer to a Bundesliga team TSG Hoffenheim.




RoPS away have a been a points automat for the home teams so far and there is little to expect from Helsinki either. The individual skill of the players is on a good level, but they do not work well enough as a team and drop easy points from games that they might as well win. The new recruit Ani seems to solve some of the goal-scoring problems after having scored already twice in the two games played so far.




No major injury worries for RoPS.




HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 20/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 19/0 – 5 Jukka Sauso 18/0 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 4/1 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 11/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 20/4 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 20/4 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 20/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 19/5 – Mathias Lindström 20/1





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 15/5, 32 Sami Salmi 0/0, 16 Jarno Parikka 19/3, 8 Ville Taulo 7/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 3/0, 18 Juhani Ojala 4/0, 4 Medo 17/3





Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0, 20 Jukka Raitala 20/0 transferrer to TSG Hoffenheim





Coach : Antti Muurinen




RoPS: 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 19/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 20/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 17/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 19/2 - 10 Chanda Mwaba 20/1 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 20/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 19/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 14/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 11/0 - 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0

Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 16/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 14/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 4/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 9/0, 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 2/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 2/0, 23 Jeremieh Ani 2/2, 5 White Simwanza 16/0, 18 Christopher Musonda 19/3

Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 16 Jeferson Pires 7/1 on loan to FC OPA





Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi









KuPS - Haka





KuPS: 1-1-1-3-3-0

Haka: 0-1-0-1-1-1




H2H:4-3-11

Last game in Veikkausliiga:31.05.09 Haka – KuPS 3-0




KuPS showed HJK in the cup that all the talk about KuPS being a decent team nowadays were all true, and only some bad luck against TamU in the last league game stopped them for getting again some valuable points to get rid of the relegation threat.




For this game KuPS get back important players from suspension and the injury list, and Ollo 15/2, Joonas Pöntinen 4/0, Segun Ikudehinbu 6/0 and Balazs Balogh 14/1are available again.





Haka beat JJK in the cup 2-1 last week, but the performance was far from acceptable, again. They have last won a league game more than two months ago, 5.7.09 at MYPA. It has become clear to everyone now that their spot at the top of the table half-way the season was mostly down to luck and a good fixture list. Because of the good first half of the season they are still fifth in the table however, and in theory have chances for a top finish, but judging by the performances they should be battling against relegation with teams like JJK and RoPS.





Important mf Sami Ristilä 16/2 is sidelined due injury, the new Ecuadorian signing Cagua might get his debut at Kuopio.





KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 17/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 20/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 19/1 - 3 Janne Reinikainen 17/0 - 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 16/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 14/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 4/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 18/5 - 11 Pele Koljonen 17/5 - 7 Miikka Turunen 18/2 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 5/1


Bench: 17 Jussi Kolari 0/0, 24 Atte Hoivala 8/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0, 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 6/0, 15 Ollo 15/2, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 4/0, 9 Balazs Balogh 14/1

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season, 21 Jesse Miettinen 0/0, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0, 4 Patrik Turunen 14/0,




Coach: Esa Pekonen





Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 20/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 9/0 - 3 Petri Viljanen 13/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 16/5 - 22 Jarno Mattila 20/1 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 20/6 - 7 Mikko Innanen 20/2 - 11 Antti Hynynen 18/5 - 41 Valeri Minkenen 10/0 - 8 Jani Kauppila 20/0 - 9 Niko Ikävalko 17/3




Bench: 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 16/0, Antti Hakala 1/0, 10 Mika Mäkitalo 17/2, 19 Juuso Salonen 3/0, 17 Kalle Multanen, Jhon Cagua 0/0 from Ecuador




Out: 5 Kalle Parviainen 0/0, 15 Nicolas Kivistö 6/0 transferred to Gnistan at Kakkonen, 28 Hans Denissen 5/0 (freed from contract), 2 Diego Corpache 15/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 16/2




Coach: Olli Huttunen





TPS - FC Lahti





TPS: 1-1-3-3-3-1

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

H2H:9-4-6

Last game in Veikkausliiga:31.05.09 Lahti – TPS 2-4





TPS have been unbeatable in the league for a long time, but last match at Mariehamn brought them only one point and in the Cup FC Honka got an astonishing 2-6 win after extra time and perhaps TPS camp is not that sure about themselves anymore in the top of the league. Goal-keeper Jukka Lehtovaara got chosen as the best player of the league in August, but he has been out with the U21-team for two away matches lately while the others have rested.

No injuries for TPS.

FC Lahti lost their last game in the league 1-2 against HJK, but fought their way into the final 8 teams in the Cup, and as there is little to fight for in the league but everything to win in the Cup that is probably where their emphasis for the rest of the season lies. Lahti defense especially has been vulnerable to injuries, and they got a promising defender Jarkko Värttö from FC Honka to help them for the rest of the season.

Jari Litmanen has been with the national team in Azerbaidzhan and Liechtenstein during the international break and is unlikely to play.





TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 19/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 19/0 – 18 Chris Cleaver 16/0 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 18/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 20/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 20/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 19/0 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 19/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 20/5 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 19/6 - 21 Wayne Brown 20/6





Bench: 3 Kalle Mäkinen 0/0, 4 Igor Jovanovic 3/0, 11 Mika Ääritalo 10/3, 17 Roope Riski 0/0, 29 Yll Hoxha 8/0, 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, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 18/4





Out:13 Samu-Petteri Mäkelä 8/0 (return to PoPa), 5 Simo Valakari 7/0, 9 Patrik Lomski 6/0 (loan to KPV), 22 Jesse Saarinen 0/0 (loan to KPV)









Coach: Pasi Rautiainen





FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 12/0 –15 Jukka Vanninen 18/1 – 12 Toni Huuhka 16/1 - 2 Heikki Haara 17/1 – 6 Kalle Eerola 17/0 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 18/4 - 9 Rafael 18/3 – 11 Drilon Shala 20/5 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 19/0 – 19 Riku Heini 14/0 - 17 Eero Korte 20/2


Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 8/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 8/0, 10 Jari Litmanen 11/0, ,20 Jonne Kemppinen 17/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 10/2, 3 Henri Toivomäki 18/0, 24 Jarkko Värttö 0/0, 5 Jari Holopainen 1/0





Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 7/0