Tampere United- FC KooTeePee 2-0 ( 0-0)
June 6, 2004 Ratina Stadium
Three points on Sunday against FC KooTeePee proved costly as striker Henri Scheweleff and possibly also Toni Junnila suffered lenghty injuries because of the hard tackling visitors. However, the three points pushed United to the top spot of the league table.
First half of the game showed no special moments expect hard tackles that lead to injuries. Both teams played very carefully and defended well. In the second half United started to push forward more and the visitors couldn't answer. First Antti Pohja scored his sixth league goal from an assisst by Sakke Saarinen. Later Mika Lahtinen heded Pohja's free kick in on his first touch of the ball after coming in as a sub just seconds earlier.
Man of the match was once again Antti Pohja. Petri Hein�nen came in for Scheweleff and had a very promising performance. Jarkko Wiss and Kari Sainio had solid games and the whole defensive unit played also very well.
MATCH STATS:
Tampere United- FC KooTeePee 2-0 (0-0)
60. Antti Pohja 1-0
82. Mika Lahtinen 2-0
Attendance: 4133
TPS- Tampere United 0-1 (0-0)
June 3, 2004 Veritas Stadium, Turku
MATCH STATS:
TPS- Tampere United 0-1 (0-0)
51. Salmela 0-1
Attendance: 3789
Tampere United: Kaven- Salmela, Kuoppala, R�s�nen, Saarinen- Ojanper� (74. Lahtinen) Sainio, Wiss- Pohja, Junnila(60. Hynynen) Scheweleff(89 Savolainen)
Tampere United- RoPS 5-1 (1-1)
May 30, 2004 Ratina Stadium
Tampere United took the easiest three points so far in this years Veikkausliiga on Sunday night against RoPS. Antti Pohja lead the way once again by scoring a hatful of goals. The performance of the Rovaniemi team doesn't promise them anything more this year but a one-way ticket back to First Division from where they were promoted last year.
Tampere United started the game very nervously and seemed to get nothing done against RoPS who were defending with eleven men. And things got worse after 16 minutes when visitors striker Bogesic got through after a bad mistake in the United defence and Mikko Kaven somehow managed not to save the weak shot. 0-1 to the away team.
United kept pressuring and after 25 minutes superstar Antti Pohja drilled a thundering shot from 30 meters to the top corner to tie the came. RoPS keeper Ratko Marijanovic followed with his eyes. The match was decided just minutes after the break when midfield dynamo Jarkko Wiss found the net to give the Blues their first lead.
After that there was no question about the winner. RoPS did not have any shots on goal in the 2nd half. United added three more with a great help from unbelievably bad RoPS keeper Marijanovic. He must be the worst keeper ever to play in Veikkausliiga. Antti Pohja and Jarkko Wiss again dominated for the home team. Central defence was in trouble early in the match and had nothing to do later in the game. Toni Junnila scored his first goal, but otherwise showed no signs of development from his poor start of the season. This was probably United's worst game this year but nothing more was needed because of the weak opponents.
Young central defender Mikko-Ville Hyyh�nen signed a three year contract with United earlier this week and made his debut in Veikkausliiga today playing last 10 minutes.
Next up TPS away midweek and KTP at home next Sunday.
MATCH STATS:
Tampere United- RoPS 5-1 (1-1)
16. Bogesic 0-1
25. Pohja 1-1
48. Wiss 2-1
65. Pohja 3-1
76. Junnila 4-1
77. Pohja 5-1 (pk)
Attendance: 3890
Tampere United: Kaven- Salmela, R�s�nen, Kuoppala, Saarinen- Sainio(85.Hyyh�nen), Wiss, Ojanper�(65. Lahtinen)- Pohja, Hynynen(46. Junnila) , Scheweleff
United goals(season): Pohja 5 (2 pk), Scheweleff 1, Wiss 1, Junnila 1
Tampere United- FC Lahti 0-0
May 23, Ratina Stadium
More than seven thousand fans had found their way to the renewed Ratina Stadium on Sunday night. Many of them were there to see the visitors star player Jari Litmanen in action, but the King of Finnish football was sidelined because of an injury. The game itself gave the fans very little. Disappointing 0-0 was not enough agains the mediocre Lahti team.
Tampere United played a solid game, created few golden chances and kept the ball away from their own net but that was only good for a draw. Something was missing in the attacking game. Antti Pohja came closest for the home team smashing the ball into the middle of the bar from a lovely cross by Scheweleff, and missed a clear break through moments later at the start of the second half. Scheweleff occasionally showed glimpses of his skills, but disappeared towards the end of the game. Jarkko Wiss had another fine performance in the middle and Antti Ojanper� had two excellent long range efforts. The whole defensive unit led by Kaven was very good today. The biggest disappointment was, again, Toni Junnila. The young forward has not lived up to the promises so far this season.
The best player of the game was between the posts of Lahti goal. Keeper Michail Slawuta had a superb performance.
Next match is a must win against RoPS in a one week time. Maybe some goal scoring practise would be approprite until then...
MATCH STATS:
Tamper United- FC Lahti 0-0
Attendance:7120
Tampere United: Kaven- Aho, Kuoppala, R�s�nen, Saarinen- Wiss, Sainio, Ojanper�- Junnila(46.Hynynen), Pohja, Scheweleff
United goals(season): Pohja 2(1pk), Scheweleff 1
FC KaVo- Tampere United 0-5
May 19, Ky�tikk�l�, Kangasala
United stormed easily through to the fifth round by knocking off their Third Division opponents. Not a memorable match but at least the young players received some playing time. Toni Junnila's two goals give some promises to the bigger games too.
MATCH STATS:
FC KaVo- Tampere United 0-5 (0-3) Finnish Cup, 4th round
Toni Junnila 0-1
Antti Ojanper� 0-2
Toni Junnila 0-3
Antti Ojanper� 0-4
Henri Scheweleff 0-5
Attendance: 350
FC Haka- Tampere United 0-1 (0-1)
May 13, Tehtaan Kentt�, Valkeakoski
Another important win for TamU in Valkeakoski. One goal by Antti Pohja is enough to give three points to the Blues over previously unbeaten FC Haka. Full report to follow...
Tampere United- AC Allianssi 1-0 (0-0)
May 10, 2004 Tammela Stadium
Tampere United took its first victory of the season in the chilly weather at the Tammela Stadium on Monday night. Antti Pohja's penalty kick was enough to give the Blues 1-0 win over AC Allianssi. The game was the last one played at old home field Tammela, from now on TamU moves to renewed Ratina Stadium.
The first half of Monday's game didn't give much to the 3000+ spectators. Both teams were mostly concentrating on their defence and scoring opportunities were very few. TamU had clearly decided not to give up a goal after surprising defeat few days earlier and the visitors seemed to be satisfied with a goalless game.
At the start of the scond half things started to change. United started to push forward, Antti pohja was getting more balls up front and Jarkko Wiss and Antti Ojanper� were supporting in the midfield. After 52 minutes Allianssi defender had to foul Wiss in the box and referee had no choice but to give a penalty kick. Up stepped Henri Scheweleff, and blasted the kick towards the sky well over the bar. This didn't seem to bother United and they seemed to get more determined to go forward. United were pressing and after 79 minutes the second pk was awarded after Allianssi's Haara handled the ball in the box. This time Antti Pohja took the ball and the home crowd's biggest hero placed it into the net with a cool-headed shot. Allianssi was not able to answer and the home team took the important three points.
The first home game of the season was much better display from the whole team than the opener in Pori. The defence was unbreakable and Allianssi bluntly had no scoring chances. Big names Antti Pohja and Jarkko Wiss stepped up and showed the example, Wiss was clearly the man of the match. Also Aho and Ojanper� had steady performances and Scheweleff worked hard through the game.
Next league game will be against rivals and the only team with full points FC Haka in Valkeakoski on Thursday night. The derby is expected to be extremely close game and the points from the game might end up to be decisive in the end of the season.
MATCH STATS:
Tampere United- AC Allianssi 1-0 (0-0)
79. Antti Pohja (pk) 1-0
Attendance: 3113
Tampere United: Kaven- Aho, R�s�nen, Kuoppala, Saarinen- Sainio, Wiss, Ojanper�, Junnila(60. Hynynen)- Pohja(90.Lahtinen), Scheweleff(86. Savolainen)
United goals(season): Scheweleff 1, Pohja 1(1pk)
FC Jazz- Tampere United 3-1 (2-1)
May 7, 2004 Pori Stadium
FC Jazz shocked favorites Tampere United in the league opener Friday night in Pori. Hardworking underdogs defended bravely and used their chances with a high percentage. TamU could not answer home teams fighting and had to head back home without any points.
The match couldn't have started any better for United. Star striker Henri Scheweleff scrambled in the first goal only after two minutes of play following an error by Jazz keeper Lauri Pirhonen. Everybody was waiting for a glorious evening for the away team but that never happened. Jazz got themselves organized after disastrous start and hit twice back with counter attacks in the first half. Both goals were headed in from a cross by the Brazilian wizard Piracaia. First one by Matti L�hitie and the second by ex- TamU player Matti Santahuhta.
The second half was no different from the first one. The Blues got nothing done against hard defending Jazz and the home team scored one with another counter attack: a cross from Piracaia headed in by Ilkka Santahuhta. Match ended 3-1.
The result of the first game was very disappointing for Tampere United. Usually strong central defence was caught sleeping three times when Mickey Mouse- sized Jazz strikers headed the ball in to the net behind very insecure Mikko Kaven. Highly touted returners Antti Pohja and Jarkko Wiss were relatively invisible and promising Toni Junnila probably the worst player on the pitch today. The biggest mistake was made already before the game by the coach Ari Hjelm when he decided to start young Erik Westerholm and J.P. Savolainen. Both debuts ended after the first half. Especially Westerholm does not look like he's ready for top level football quite yet.
Hopefully the team learned from their mistakes and we will see a totally different Blues in the first home game next Monday. The match against Allianssi will be a farewell game to the old home, Tammela Stadium.
MATCH STATS:
FC Jazz- Tampere United 3-1 (2-1)
2. Henri Scheweleff 0-1
10. Matti L�hitie 1-1
24. Matti Santahuhta 2-1
73. Ilkka Santahuhta 3-1
Attendance: 2632
Tampere United: Kaven- Aho, R�s�nen, Kuoppala, Westerholm(46. Saarinen)- Sainio, Wiss, Junnila, Savolainen(46.Hynynen)- Pohja, Scheweleff
United goals(season): Scheweleff 1