Mastokangas scored two goals in his debut. SJK overthrew AC Oulu.
Elias Mastokangas scored two goals on Sunday after coming on as a substitute at halftime, and his new club Haka beat the Veikkausliiga top team Kuopio Palloseura 2–1 (0–0) thanks to the goals.
“The start was even better than expected. The last time I scored two goals against Lahti in the Cup was two years ago”, beamed the midfielder who transferred from Inter on his debut in Haka.
Just two minutes after the second goal, Mastokangas got through, but the KuPS goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl was able to repel.
“The hat was too close, I’ll probably lose sleep thinking about it,” Mastokangas said half-seriously.
The match was the seventh in a row in the league without a loss for the continuing Haka. KuPS, on the other hand, suffered a defeat partly due to travel fatigue, even though the draw was close to scoring a goal Daniel Carrillo after hitting the post in added time.
“I will not go behind the program. The top teams travel, and we are happy to be involved in three competitions. The match was tough, and that’s how we want to play. On Thursday, the next top team will face us”, commented the coach of KuPS Simo Valakari.
Sunday was the sixth consecutive day of travel for the team. After one day off, the team travels to Turku on Tuesday, where they will meet Bern’s Young Boys.
Last SJK, who found their game in the past few weeks, continued their strong hold on Sunday in Seinäjoki, where AC Oulu was the guest. SJK grabbed the full point pot with goals 3–2 (1–0).
The visiting team was on the bottom for most of the match, as SJK created quality chances from the assembly line. The home team won shots 17–9 and corner kicks 16–2. Oulu goalkeeper Calum Ward saved 11 times, SJK’s Markus Uusitalo four times.
SJK’s greatest hero had found his peak mood Tuomas Kaukua, which hit twice. Kaukua has scored in the last three league matches, in which there have been a total of four rucks.
“We saw signs of his abilities already in the winter, and the sky is the limit for him. He has taken big steps and improved game by game”, SJK pilot Joaquín Gómez said of the 21-year-old striker’s grip.
SJK’s opening goal was marked as Oulu’s own goal. The visitors’ goals finished the game Michael López and Rafael Floro.
“We didn’t get off to a good start, and we lost the ball too often, which made us lose our confidence. In the first period, we only tried to prevent SJK’s attacks. To be honest, SJK deserved the victory”, admitted the head coach of Oulu Ricardo Duarte.
#Football #Hakan #Elias #Mastokangas #helped #HJK #sinking #KuPS #hat #close
