Gam-Finnish Wrap: Wins for Savage and Jagne while Jammeh’s KooTeePee held

Gambia international Demba Savage saw 69 minutes of play for Champions HJK Helsinki on Sunday, as his Finnish side defeated leaders Inter Turku 2-1 at the Sonera Stadium.

HJK struck fast, ending Inter’s long shut-out record to start the season as Joel Perovuo set up Sebastian Mannström 45 seconds after the opening whistle for the early shocker. Inter quickly recovered, looking the better team for much of the first half, and equalized in the 43rd minute as Joni Kauko put away a loose ball in HJK’s area.

Inter kept their hosts in check for much of the second half, but the loss of Kauko in the 73rd minute due to injury shifted the tide in HJK’s favor. HJK finally secured the three points in the third minute of injury time, as Joel Pohjanpalo received the ball more than 30 yards out, advanced a few steps then blasted a shot past Inter keeper Magnus Bahn for the final 2-1 score.

Inter still remain on top of the Veikkausliiga standings, although they lead Demba Savage’s HJK only by way of superior goal differential.

At the Hietalahden jalkapallostadion, Saihou Jagne saw 27 minutes of play in the second half for IFK Mariehamn as a valuable road victory over VPS pushed them up to fifth in the Veikkausliiga standings.

A largely uneventful game was suddenly given life in the 70th minute when Jarno Parikka broke into the right side of the area to put away a low shot for the 1-0 VPS lead; however the Islanders stormed back with a late surge that secured them the points.

Kristian Kojola rose high to head in an 80th minute corner from Petteri Forsell, then the team hit the winner with four minutes on the clock as a defensive error set up an indirect free kick from six yards out, which Aleksei Kangaskolkka slid over to Forsell for an unsavable, point-blank blast.

With the win, Jagne’s Mariehamn are in fifth place on eight points through five games, and will be back in action on Wednesday when they visit KuPS in a midweek Finnish Cup quarterfinal matchup.

At the Arto Tolsa Areena, Ken Malamin Jammeh and his FC KooTeePee were wasteful with an early lead on Saturday, settling for a point against Oulu PS in Ykkönen action.

Jammeh’s KooTeePee were first on the board when Juuso Laitinen set up Samuli Kaivonurmi for the opener in the 20th minute, however OPS pulled even in the next minute as Nikola Prebiracevic put away a free kick from Mexican ex-pat Alberto Ramírez.

Pekka Raisanen’s straight red for OPS with 19 minutes left to play nearly handed the advantage to the hosts. With two games played, Ken Malamin’s KooTeePee are second with four points, and face a huge test on Wednesday when they visit top-flight team HJK Helsink of Demba Savage in Finnish Cup action.