TFT Issue 444!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
If I have much more bad luck like yesterday then I’ll probably kill myself! Other than that, let’s get on with making some money.
Featured game
PK-35 Helsinki vs SJK – over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
Today’s featured game is the Ykkonen heavyweight clash between struggling PK-35 Helsinki and in-form SJK.
Quality-wise, I’d favour PK-35 to win this one but form-wise, you have to really consider the chance that SJK actually have here. PK-35 were drubbed by their bitter rivals at home recently before claiming a respectable 1-1 draw at RoPS, albeit somewhat disappointing as they let a lead slip in the last minute. PK-35 definitely have the quality to turn things around on their own pitch but will they against a talented SJK? It’s hard to say.
SJK have a largely healthy squad and win three consecutive wins under their belt, you have to fancy them to get a result here. They’re not defending well enough to play a tactical game here so I expect them to take their chances with an open game. They’re scoring goals for fun right now and have bagged ten in their last three as a result. They’ve only failed to score in one Ykkonen game this season and it’ll take a strong PK-35 display for it to be otherwise today.
For me, this game screams over 2.5 goals. At 5/6, it looks a real steal as long as both sides deliver as we know that they can.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
Additional game
KooTeePee Kotka vs RoPS Rovaniemi – under 2.5 goals at 9/10.
A lot points to the away win here but I’m not so sure. RoPS are still a rather cautious side, let’s not forget, and KooTeePee Kotka are a side that builds from the back before going forward. Both are cautious sides that prefer clean sheets over flambuoyant displays. In some ways, KooTeePee are a marginally worse version of RoPS and thus I expect a low-scoring game here. RoPS struggled to penetrate PK-35 in their last game and they miss Sohna today ahead of a proposed move to Russia, which damages their attacking game. RoPS are good enough to win this game but this is not an easy side to play against, especially not in Kotka. I think we’re in for a tight game and I find 4/5 to be too short for the away win. However, I do like the look of taking under 2.5 goals at 9/10 – those odds look tasty, even if it is the Ykkonen!
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 9/10.
Team news
Finnish Ykkonen
OPS Oulu – No news.
AC Oulu – Nurmos is absent. Ojala is a doubt.
Viikingit Helsinki – Kinnunen, Gonzalez, Delgado, Peteri, and Koivu are absent. Honkaniemi returns.
Jippo Joensuu – L.Ikonen, I.Eronen, Korpela, and Itala are absent. Kettunen and Hallikainen have been loaned out.
PK-35 Helsinki – Karki and Arinze are absent. Nyberg, Ikegwuonu, and Sorja are doubts.
SJK – Palosaari and Penninkangas are absent. Karike, Jaaskelainen, Tiitus Lehtinen, Rauhala, and Viljanan have left on loan.
KooTeePee Kotka – Jammeh, Lomidze, and Jarviniemi are absent.
RoPS Rovaniemi – Obilor and Sohna are absent. Kononen, Kokko, and Lahtinen are doubts.
HiFK Helsinki – Kibona and Heimonen are absent. Johansson is a doubt.
Hameenlinna – Suhonen and Makela are absent.