Veikkausliiga Round-Up: KuPS Thrashes Gnistan to Claim Top Spot, While Inter Turku Settles for a Draw

On Tuesday, KuPS delivered an emphatic 6-2 victory over Gnistan, reclaiming the top spot in the Veikkausliiga. Their lead was secured after Wednesday’s matches, with Inter Turku unable to overcome Mariehamn. In another surprising twist, HJK squandered a 2-0 lead, ultimately falling 3-2 to the struggling Jaro, marking one of the biggest upsets of the season.

Gnistan have shown they can challenge the league’s heavyweights this season, and they nearly pulled off another upset when goalkeeper Aatu Hakala’s mishap allowed Joakim Latonen to open the scoring after just 16 minutes.

However, the visitors were soon rattled by three quick goals from KuPS in the final eight minutes of the first half. Agon Sadiku started the onslaught with a close-range effort, before Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba bundled the ball in from a corner for his fourth goal in just two matches.

Right before half-time, Sadiku celebrated his second when a blocked shot fell perfectly for him, and he finished with precision.

Early in the second half, Hakala stumbled again, failing to secure a shot from Didrik Hafstad. But Gnistan’s hope for a comeback was short-lived—just three minutes later KuPS were awarded a penalty, with Sadiku stepping up to complete his hat-trick.

Petteri Pennanen added a fifth with a powerful shot from 25 yards, and ten minutes before full-time, Mohamed Toure broke free from a fatigued Gnistan defence to seal the scoreline at 6-2.

This marks KuPS’ second consecutive league win, bouncing back from an earlier slump, while Gnistan have only managed one victory in their last six outings.

Following this match, KuPS ascended to the top of the table, expected to hold that position for 24 hours. However, they will remain there longer as Inter Turku was held to a goalless draw at home by Mariehamn.

The unbeaten team had a prime opportunity to clinch three points with 20 minutes left, but Axel Kouame missed a penalty.

The stalemate specialists have now recorded three draws in their last four matches, yet this positive result was not enough to prevent Mariehamn from slipping to ninth place.

Inter Turku has now dropped to third position after Ilves fended off a late comeback from KTP, securing a 2-1 home victory that leaves them just one point behind KuPS.

Oiva Jukkola opened the scoring for Ilves just before the 15-minute mark, and they doubled their lead shortly after half-time through Marius Soderback.

Although substitute Rangel scored a consolation for KTP five minutes before the final whistle, they couldn’t find a dramatic equaliser and remain marginally ahead of last-placed AC Oulu, who were inactive this week.

The standout result of the round belonged to Jaro, who shocked HJK by coming from behind to win 3-2 in Helsinki. This victory brings Jaro within four points of the top half, while HJK remains fifth following consecutive losses.

Leading scorers Alexander Ring and Teemu Pukki did the early damage for HJK, both netting their seventh goals of the season, with Ring’s being a spectacular free-kick.

However, it was then Jaro’s turn to shine, with league top scorer Kerfala Cissoko netting two goals in a five-minute span to draw level.

In a dramatic finish, Rudi Vikstrom emerged as the hero for Jaro, scoring the winning goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time, marking their second win in three games while HJK suffered two losses in under a week.

Lastly, on Wednesday night, Haka rallied from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over VPS away, climbing to eighth place, two slots and three points behind their opponents, who are still searching for a win in three matches.

Maissa Fall had given VPS the lead early on, but Haka overturned the deficit with a thunderous strike from Eetu Mommo and a winning goal from Jean-Pierre Da Sylva by the 33rd minute.