© Magazine image
Today, SJK coach Jani Honkavaara got his team to play his best game of the season against last season’s team KuPS. MAGAZINE IMAGE / Mikko Stig
The reigning champion of the Football League, KuPS, was left in the tube for the second time without a victory, when the team was left in a 1-1 draw in Seinäjoki as a guest of SJK.
Jani Honkavaara, who piloted KuPS for the championship last season and is currently coaching SJK, got his team to play his best game of the season, and SJK fought for the win until the end.
– It was a little annoying that we didn’t win. We played our best game of the season and now our players were free, Honkavaara rejoiced.
The home crowd cheered when, after 53 minutes, KuPS’s charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Petteri Pennanen hit the ball with a great shot.
SJK reversed the direction of the game after the KuPS goal and came to the level at the hour when Niko Markkula sank the back of the penalty box Otso Virtanen. The rank was caused by Pennanen, who had painted a moment earlier, who overthrew Serge Atakayin in the box.
– I don’t know how that happened. I never remember poking my opponent hard, Pennanen lamented.