HJK drop points
League-leaders HJK Helsinki dropped points for the second time in three games as they drew 0-0 at home to SJK Seinäjoki in the Finnish Veikkausliiga.
🎥 HJK vs SJK 0-0
Kooste Veikkausliigan matsista Bolt Arenalla: https://t.co/UKcziuUBgt
⭐️⭐️⭐️#HJK #HJKSJK #Veikkausliiga #OnVainYksiKlubi #hjkhelsinki pic.twitter.com/xhxvYvvgBS
— HJK Helsinki (@hjkhelsinki) July 31, 2021
The match
In a game of few chances, the visitors should have punished some loose defending when Denys Oliynyk was played through in the 33rd minute, but he skewed his shot wide.
HJK were off-colour and SJK should have punished them. Ariel Ngueukam showed good movement in the box but his header went wide of the post in the second half.
A speculative volley from Dylan Murnane was the first time HJK properly tested Jesse Öst in goal, before the rebound from Jair was also kept out.
🔵⚪️ So close… 💥#HJK #HJKSJK #Veikkausliiga #OnVainYksiKlubi pic.twitter.com/vj0Ellannc
— HJK Helsinki (@hjkhelsinki) July 31, 2021
What does it mean?
It was an underwhelming performance from the champions, who are now seven points clear of KuPS, but they have a game in hand. SJK remain fifth and once again were without a clinical edge up top; they have scored just 15 goals in 13 league games.
Honka salvage a draw from two-nil down
A more entertaining game occured at the Veritas Stadion with Inter Turku blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with FC Honka.
Aleksi Paananen avasi eilen tämän kauden maalitilinsä ja Alejandro Sanz iski koko Veikkausliigauransa ensimmäisen osuman!
⚽ FC Inter – FC Honka 2-2 (2-1)
📽️ Katso koko ottelun parhaat palat Ruudun koosteesta: https://t.co/S90Hft6fWj#fcinterturku #fchonka #veikkausliiga pic.twitter.com/gJANP2jKXP
— FC Inter Turku (@FCInterTurku) August 3, 2021
The match
Inter Turku took the lead after 18 minutes when Matias Ojala’s close-range effort was brilliantly kept out by American Tim Murray but the rebound fell to Aleksi Paananen, who made no mistake.
Kako Sanz doubled their lead with a first-time shot from just inside the penalty área that Murray got a hand to, and should have kept out.
There was more questionable goalkeeping to come as Edmund Arko-Mensah’s shot caught out Aati Marttinen in goal on the stroke of half-time to cut the deficit in half.
However, there was no question-marks over the equaliser that came with 17 minutes to go. After deceiving a defender with a clever skill, Niklas Pyyhtiä struck a pinpoint curling shot, on the turn, into the far corner. It was a stunning goal.
It was all Honka in the second half and they nearly won it in the last 10 minutes when there was an almighty goalmouth scramble.
What does it mean?
Inter Turku held on to draw and fail to go level on points with KuPS. Honka remain eighth and are unbeaten in their last five games.
Other results
Elsewhere, bottom side Oulu were beaten again, losing 1-0 away at Ilves. While, FC Lahti thrashed KTP 3-0.
