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.