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!