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ALLIANSSI vs. INTER TURKU
Ratings: 191 - 108
Odd limits: 1.79 3.85 5.55 (56% 26% 18%)
Expekt odds: 1.80 3.30 3.75 (49% 26% 25%)
Pick: Allianssi to win
Stake: €10.00
Distance between the teams: 168 km.
Weather forecast: Cloudy, +17, wind 4 m/s to north-east.
Missing players: ALLIANSSI: Simula (m), Koivistoinen (gk), / INTER: Sinkkonen (gk), Gustafsson (s),
ALLIANSSI: Allianssi started their game against TampU powerfully as they controlled the game and scored two vital goals that snapped up the backbone of TampU. In the second half TampU could pull one back but own goal 89th minute sealed the game and Allianssi won 3-1 in front of 2021 spectators. Now Allianssi, who have gained two wins, meet Inter, who have gained two defeats. Inter surely is more dangerous now after two humiliating defeats to local rivals TPS and then Jokerit. Allianssi have been in excellent form and their confidence is high.
INTER: Two defeats in a row is a bad start to a season. Last Sunday Konstantin Nahk and Jokerit punished Inter 4-0. Jokerit lead after first half 3-0 and then at the second half Jokerit just played, controlled the game and avoided risks. Inter goalie Bahne admitted that he had a bad day. Inter manager Kari Virtanen said that they had made lots of errors and they haven’t had the team well together yet. Can’t understand how team with such players like Teberio, Nyman, Pertot etc. can’t win and they haven’t even scored yet. Now they visit Allianssi who have won their first two matches (against Lahti & Tampere Utd) and are looking for a win over Inter. Maybe we’ll see striker Lindelöf back in the starting eleven increasing the spirit on the pitch. Lindelöf is the player who has tattooed Inter Turku’s logo in his chest just above where his heart is. This will be tougher game as Inter will definitely be more focused and won’t at least lose easily.
Possible starting line-ups:
ALLIANSSI (4-3-3):Mitschuk / Roiko, Moilanen, Rissanen, Pulkkinen / Marjamaa, Rantanen, Sampo / Vajanne, Kaijansilta, Adriano
INTER (4-3-3): Bahne / Corpache, Nyman, Lindström, Oinas / Niskala, Pertot, Della Salla / Bazan Vera, Teberio, Lindelöf
LATEST GAMES AT VANTAA
2002: 1-0, 2-0
Prediction: Home win
HAKA vs. KOOTEEPEE
Ratings: 151 - 75
Odd limits: 1.59 4.35 7.14 (63% 23% 14%)
Expekt odds: 1.25 4.35 9.75 (71% 20% 9%)
Pick: no pick
Stake: no stake
Distance between the teams: 218 km.
Weather forecast: Cloudy, +16, wind 5 m/s to north-east.
Missing players: HAKA: Okkonen (d), Fowler (d – 50/50), / KOOTEEPEE: Nikuradzhe (gk), Kärkkäinen (m), Huovila (d), Väisänen (m – 50/50), Pulkkinen (m – 50/50),
HAKA: Haka then lost first time in nine years against HJK at home. The game itself was quite even but HJK were slightly better at every area on the pitch. HJK kept Popovitch also in their leashes so he couldn’t score. Haka tried to equalise but couldn’t break the HJK defence. Now it should be an easy task for Haka as promoted KooTeePee visit Valkeakoski. Haka are much better team and I can’t see Popovitch playing two games in a row without a goal. Sad news is that defender Fowler got injured against HJK and is possibly out against KooTeePee.
KOOTEEPEE: A trip to Turku produced a 4-2 defeat and two injuries: midfielders Väisänen and Pulkkinen both injured in the game against TPS and are possibly out from this fixture. KooTeePee had the worst possible start to the game because after 16 minutes TPS were leading 3-0. On-loan man Jon Poulsen brought some spirit up front and he was the main architect in two of their goals. Manager Polack said that the first half was the worst he has ever seen. It’s not going to be easy for KooTeePee as they are now visiting one title contenders Haka. Especially if midfielders Väisänen and Pulklkinen are out it leaves a huge hole in the midfield and it’s hard to fill that hole. Fans aren’t satisfied to defender Komov as he has been quite disappointing.
Possible starting line-ups:
HAKA (4-3-3): Toivonen / Kangaskorpi, Ylönen, Pasoja, Fowler / Rantala, Karjalainen, Ristilä / Terehhov, Popovitch, Torkkeli
KOOTEEPEE (4-4-2): Halonen / Komov, Kinnaslampi, Ihonen, Paakkari / Szilaqyi, Väisänen, Pulkkinen, Lehtonen / Poulsen, Liljeqvist
LATEST GAMES AT VALKEAKOSKI:
No past games
Prediction: home win
KUPS vs. HJK
Ratings: 120 - 204
Odd limits: 4.17 3.70 2.04 (24% 27% 49%)
Expekt odds: 4.35 3.25 1.70 (20% 27% 53%)
Pick: no pick
Stake: no stake
Distance between the teams: 382 km.
Weather forecast: Cloudy, +15, wind 5 m/s to north-east.
Missing players: KUPS: Parviainen (m), / HJK: Hakanpää (m),
KUPS: After letting four goals in at the opening game manager Pyykölä decided to concentrate on defence. Against Lahti, KuPS were leading after 25th minute by a goal from defender Matta for long but then Lahti equalised and the game ended 1-1. Lahti tried really hard to win the game but KuPS' defence was solid. Approx. 2700 spectators saw quite a scrappy game. Now it’s another tough task ahead as current champions HJK visit Kuopio. HJK are always dangerous and aren’t giving in easily. Jeremenko jr is an excellent midfielder who creates a lot of chances to score. KuPS defenders also have difficulties to cope with 195 cm tall HJK striker Kottila. Tallest KUPS defenders are Matta (185 cm) and eighteen year old Laakkonen (188 cm).
HJK: After nine years of not winning at Valkeakoski HJK did it at last: they beat Haka 1-0 at Tehtaan kenttä. HJK’s defender Heinola scored the only goal. Haka tried to get an equaliser but HJK defence was solid. Sad thing for HJK was that midfielder Hakanpää was injured and is possibly out for some time. HJK starts this fixture as favourites and no wonder. Kottila might score his first goal of the season as KuPS defenders will have problems keeping him.
Possible starting line-ups:
KUPS (4-3-3): Niskanen / Matta, Hartikainen, Utriainen, Hyökyvaara / Pasanen, Happonen, Kivilä / Pacha, Venäläinen, Markkanen
HJK (4-3-3): Vilnrotter / Turpeinen, Heinola, Jensen, Aalto / Nylund, Jeremenko jr, Savolainen / Zeneli, Kottila, Kallio
LATEST GAMES AT KUOPIO:
2002: 0-1
2001: 0-4, 0-0
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Prediction: Away win[/color]
LAHTI vs. TAMPERE UTD
Ratings: 140 - 111
Odd limits: 2.38 3.45 3.45 (42% 29% 29%)
Expekt odds: 2.45 3.05 2.60 (36% 29% 35%)
Pick: Lahti to win
Stake: €10.00
Distance between the teams: 126 km.
Weather forecast: Cloudy, +17, wind 4 m/s to north-east.
Missing players: LAHTI: Kuqi (s), Lagerblom L (d), / TAMPERE UTD:
LAHTI: Lahti was so close to win the game at Kuopio but KuPS’ defence held and the scoreline after 90 minutes was 1-1. All in all, Lahti played better game than home team KuPS (17 on goal shots against KuPS’ 4) and that’s a possible sign for Lahti to get their playing together. Now two teams with a poor start meet. Lahti have gained only one point and TampU are still without them. Kuqi and Lagerblom are possibly still out and that will complicate things. After a rather good game at Kuopio I have a gut feeling that Lahti are close of winning narrowly at Thursday.
TAMPU: Second defeat in a row for TampU was a minor disappointment but Allianssi were so much better team on the pitch nevertheless TampU could pull one goal back. TampU’s front line is surprisingly powerless. Manager Hjelm needs more will to win by players. He said that game itself wasn’t that bad but they need more power and hard work. TampU now visit Lahti who are waiting for that first win of the season and are dangerous at home. Manager Hjelm can’t understand why it is so hard for the players to increase their motivation. If they can’t find the right rhythm to play they will lose their third game in a row.
Possible starting line-ups:
LAHTI (4-3-3): Slawuta / Järvinen, Taulo, Koskinen Jukka, Leppänen / Koskinen Jarkko, Lagerblom P, Kautonen / Siikala, Helenius, Haapala
TAMPERE UTD (4-3-3): Kaven / Salmela, Räsänen, Aho, Salo / Sainio, Koskela, Kuoppala / Niemi, Hickey, Scheweleff
LATEST GAMES AT LAHTI:
2002: 0-2
2001: 0-1, 0-1
2000: 0-1, 1-0
Prediction: Home win
MYPA vs. Hà„MEENLINNA
Ratings: 240 - 136
Odd limits: 1.79 3.85 5.55 (56% 26% 18%)
Expekt odds: 1.25 4.35 9.75 (71% 20% 9%)<
Pick: no pick
Stake: no stake
Distance between the teams: 149 km.
Weather forecast: Cloudy, +16, wind 4 m/s to north-east.
Missing players: MYPA: Könönen (d), Hernesniemi (m), Antonio (s), / Hà„MEENLINNA: Seivo (s),
MYPA: MyPa did what was expected: they won Jazz 4-0. MyPa controlled the game and after 35 minutes they broke the deadlock by scoring 1-0 by defender Huttunen. Jazz couldn’t get a hold on to the game at all and it was quite easy for MyPa to win. Puhakainen, Botha and Taipale also got their names on the scoresheet. Can’t say that MyPa have had a tough start to the season as teams they have met have been KooTeePee, then Jazz and now it’s Hämeenlinna. With the team like they have they should beat easily teams this calibre. Puhakainen is in excellent form and the whole team plays well together.
Hà„MEENLINNA: Hämeenlinna can be satisfied to the point against Jaro. They could equalise but especially the second half was a poor performance by Hämeenlinna and Jaro controlled the game. Hämeenlinna goalie Istvan Tarlosi was man of the match with couple of excellent saves. If Hämeenlinna wants to snatch even a point from MyPa they need more than Tarlosi’s saves. MyPa are excellent team and there will be a sweaty evening for Hämeenlinna.
Possible starting line-ups:
MYPA (4-3-3): Mitring / Huttunen, Volodin, Aho, Timoska / Kuparinen, Ruhanen, Manso / Multaharju, Puhakainen, Botha
Hà„MEENLINNA (4-3-3): Ollikainen / Uusitorppa, Sipilä, Pellikka, Martikainen / Wikberg, Haaja, Vanninen / Kunnas, Suikki, Geagea
LATEST GAMES AT MYLLYKOSKI:
2002: 3-3
Prediction: Home win
TPS vs. JARO
Ratings: 135 - 117
Odd limits: 2.56 3.33 3.23 (39% 30% 31%)
Expekt odds: 2.00 3.15 3.25 (44% 28% 28%)
Pick: no pick
Stake: no stake
Distance between the teams: 414 km.
Weather forecast: Cloudy, +15, 4 m/s to north-east.
Missing players: TPS: Auremaa (s), Ekroos (gk), / JARO:
TPS: The first sixteen minutes decided the game when TPS were already leading 3-0 against KooTeePee. Midfielder Ville Harittu was the man of the match with two goals and one assist. After two rounds TPS are surprisingly joint leaders along with Allianssi and MyPa. Usually promoted teams are having a good run during the first half of the season and I expect them to crash down somewhere during the season. But now as Jaro are visiting them I will not expect that to happen yet. Young team plays well together and Jaro will have some problems along the match.
JARO: Jaro were unlucky not to win at Hämeenlinna as they were controlling the game. Jaro took the lead after fifteen minutes but couldn’t extend it as Hämeenlinna equalised three minutes after Jaro goal. The game against Hämeenlinna was tough and had lots of man-to-man challenges but it was also clean. Manager Boström was satisfied that their game had been improved since the Jazz game but still there are lots of work ahead to get it where Boström wants it.
Now they visit Turku and high-flying TPS. After two wins (Inter & KooTeePee) TPS have showed that they are capable of playing good football at top level. Jaro will definitely fight at least for the point and it would be interesting to see two midfield dynamos Casagrande and Wargh playing. Third draw in a row for Jaro would be no big surprise.
Possible startings line-ups:
TPS (4-3-3): Tuomala / Heikinheimo, Virkki, Leino, Moisander / Harittu, Casagrande, Heinikangas / Kotamäki, Hyyrynen, Korhonen
JARO (4-3-3): Kuismala / Ainasoja M, Heilala, Myntti, Männikkö / Storbacka, Wargh, Wikström / Weckström, Suikki, Svanbäck
LATEST GAMES AT TURKU:
No past games
Prediction: Home win/draw
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