The four clubs who are in the promotion play-offs 7.10 and 14.10 are
KTP vs AC Kajaani, winners of A and C groups
Klubi04 vs Viikingit, best runner-up and winner of group B. Helsinki derby.
Away goal rules, but there is a catch at Klubi04 as 4 of their players will be with the FIN U19 national team who is away at Georgia on the first match day, and perhaps that leg will be rescheduled. Or not. Last time Klubi04 were in this situation they just had to play with the players they had available, and lost badly vs GrIFK.
Group A
Even if the table does not properly show it there was quite a gap after the first two in class, Klubi04 are exceptionally good at home but suffer at their travels. It is a young HJK reserves team with full of youth international players and some great talents. KTP is more mature with seasoned players and some paid foreign players, Spanish, Brazilian and Africans.
The relegated teams deserve to go down. Sudet is a one man show as Niko Nakari scored 14 of their 28 goals, Kultsu could had survived, Lahti Akatemia was the reserve team of Veikkausliiga FC Lahti but things went wrong from the start, and in my eyes the organization were not too interested in them. Another notable key player in this group was Kiffen's Toure. Pahkasalo at Legirus was injured the in the latter part of the season, and acted as a manager.
Next season the groups will be new, but still geographic. Legendary MyPa will replace the void at Kouvola area now that Sudet are gone. Honka Academy is one promoted team, HIFK/2 another, and also LPS is close to a return. SJK/2 is another new club at this level.
Group B
Viikingit never looked like a winner of the group, and my credit goes to coach Baranov. Viikingit avoided injuries all season, signed a key striker Paatelainen from Klubi04 middle of the season, and won the right games when it mattered. Interesting derby ahead in the promotion play-offs!
MuSa were the best team in my eyes, but there are too few matches in the league that you could afford to lose easy points, which they did. Derby rival Jazz was their biggest obstacle.
The relegation positions were taken by exactly correct teams.
Three top Viikingit scorers here. Another reason for their success!
Group C - the North
One professional and expensive team in this group and there was no contest of the winner at any time. By winning their latest match GBK would had taken the the promotion play-off spot, but they failed vs weak PK-37. GBK are such old-timers that perhaps it served them right. The relegation teams are also well selected, JJK reserves Villiketut go down too, many were expecting PK-37 to be the bottom team.
One of the promoted teams to this North group will be JIPPO, who used to be ever-present almost at Ykkönen level.
Kajaani scored almost 3 goals per game, Ibi and Ramirez are class of their own. GBK's Carlsson has played among other clubs in HJK.
