On Saturday the domestic football league and the first league continued. IFK Mariehamn traveled to the mainland where HJK were guests.
IFK Mariehamn came to the capital with a win and a cross in their pocket from their first two home games of the season.
HJK, on the other hand, had a shaky start to the season as the team lost to championship rivals KuPS, but won against FC Lahti.
HJK got off to a dream start to the game when experienced defender Joona Toivio undeterred scored the opening goal from a corner.
– We went into the game with the idea that we were strong in certain situations. “We shouldn’t concede goals like that,” says Robin Sid after the game against Yle Sporten.
After the great HJK dominance in the first half, Topi Keskinen showed why he is one of the most promising gems in Finnish football. The 21-year-old got free against IFK Mariehamn’s goalkeeper Matias Riikonen – passed and shot the ball into the net.
In the final minutes, new signing Adam Larsson made it 2-1 for IFK Mariehamn, but the Ålanders couldn’t get any closer.
23-year-old Noah Pallas was signed to HJK from AC Oulu before the season. In the opening games, the defender in the HJK jersey was given a lot of responsibility.
– At HJK I can play to my strengths. I play a slightly different role than I’m used to, as I operate a little higher up the pitch. “This is a position that I still have to grow into,” says Pallas in an interview with Yle Sporten.
– Game after game I can add more and more of my strengths to this team.
HJK now moves up to third place in the table, while IFK Mariehamn is in sixth place.
VPS is at the top of the league
The VPS team, which was successful last season, continues its strong position in the football league. On Saturday there was a 3-2 win over league newcomers Gnistan.
Teemu Hy Töpfen scored the first goal in the 24th minute. Shortly afterwards, Danish newcomer Mads Borchers made it 2-0 after converting a penalty kick.
Gnistan’s exclamation mark Joakim Latonen scored his fifth league goal of the season as he reduced the score to 2-1. At the same time, Latonen rose to the top of the shooting league.
Jonas Enkerud equalized the game at the start of the second half, but in the 87th minute Gleofilo Vlitjer became the hero of the game for VPS when he scored the winning goal with a delicious volley.
With the win, VPS now climbs to the top of the table with seven points. Second-placed SJK also has seven points, but with a worse goal difference.
The football league
HJK–IFK Mariehamn 2–1 (1–0)
FC Lahti–Haka 1–1 (0–1)
VPS–Gnistan 3–2 (2–1)
FF Jaro won in the Ostrobothnian exchange
The pioneer FF Jaro continues to impress in the league.
Jaro picked up his second win of the season in the first two games as SJK Akatemia lost 1-0 thanks to a Kareem Moses header from a Sergei Eremenko corner.
Jaro is now second in the table and has the same points as first place JIPPO. Jaro will next play at home against KäPa next Wednesday.
TPS opened their league victory account after a 1-0 home win over MP. Umar Bala Muhammed’s goal in the 31st minute was enough for Åbolaget.
League one
JäPS–PK–35 3–1 (2–0)
JIPPO–KTP 1–0 (1–0)
SJK Akatemia–Jaro 0–1 (0–0)
TPS–MP 1–0 (1–0)
