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.