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.