Also the third match between them last season was a draw, but this winter in the league cup there was finally a winner when TPS were run over at Honka but lost only 2-1 by goals.
In the first round Honka took an easy win 3-1 home win over MyPa, while TPS had travelled to Valkeakoski to face Haka and with the help of Haka goal-keepers superb performance had to return home with another 0-0 result.
There should be firepower in both teams, TPS have Mika Ääritalo, Riku Riski, Roope Riski, Babatunde Wusu and especially Jonatan Johansson who returned home to Finland after a long absence abroad at Charlton, Glasgow Rangers, Malmö and so on.
Honka do have league´s top scorers of 2009 Hermanni Vuorinen, 2008 Aleksandr Kokko and 2007 Vuorinen, last season also Jami Puustinen scored 12 goals is a dangerous striker, last summer he hit the gold mine and scored 3 hat tricks in three consecutive games. Vuorinen is not starting according to the line-up published by the clubs, but he was not really missed against MyPa.
No major injury worries for TPS, but they welcome back goal-keeper Jukka Lehtovaara after a long-term injury. He is perhaps the best in the league, but personally to me missing all the match fitness sounds like a risk, which has to be taken eventually and it is today.
Honka miss only Markus Paatelainen who was with the reserves last week but the importance of that is minimal as he has been injured throughout his contract at Honka and Vuorinen is at least not starting, but Honka do have the widest material in the league. Rami Hakanpää returns from suspension to replace Ville Koskimaa as a center-back. Rasmus Schüller might return but did not look like being in 90 minutes fitness in the reserve match last week.
Key factors lie in the midfield. There is a plenty of skill and speed on both sides, and as TPS have replaced the big and athletic Wusu with a more creative Riku Riski there is a reason to believe that the ball is kept on the ground.
Honka have been readier so far this season and despite the home advantage and the absence of Vuorinen they are favourites in this match, but only by a tiny margin. Total market is another thing, goals have always been expected in this fixture, but the latest two 0-0 draws do not encourage to go for over 2.5. However, I can not see this ending in 1-0 or 0-1 either, so if there is a goal scored I expect there to be more of them.
The pitch at Turku is not yet in perfect condition but should allow the teams to play on the ground, there is some home support but the ongoing ice hockey finals where TPS are leading might keep some interested parties still away from football.
Weather is fine for a good footballing evening and the 160 km trip on the motorway is no issue.
The odds are moving to favour TPS at the moment, probably because Vuorinen is not there, but his absence is not crucial.
and hey, free live stream here!
| TPS | Honka | ||
| -0,5 | 3,12 | 1,47 | 0,5 |
| -0,25 | 2,55 | 1,64 | 0,25 |
| 0 | 2,16 | 1,87 | 0 |
| 0,25 | 1,83 | 2,21 | -0,25 |
| 0,5 | 1,59 | 2,7 | -0,5 |
puntteri@gmail.com
Copyright FT Finland
***
Ei kommentteja:
Lähetä kommentti