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Ykkösliiga 2025 (Finland, second league). Joensuu based team Jippo faced Ekenäs IF, last season in the Veikkausliiga. The twisty clash has finished with a home win by 3-2.

Jippo Joensuu, playing in red and white, has collected five points in its last five league games, while Ekenäs IF on the opposition side, who played in a full green set, arrived to this match with eleven points of their last five Ykkösliiga clashes – so it was no question that their plan was definitely to continue this great run.

Jippo Joensuu, under the guidance of its young coach Mikko Hallikainen, started this encounter in 4-3-3 formation, with the new striker Eemeli Honkola (who is recently signed from Irish team Kerry F.C.) up front. Honkola’s aerial play was an important factor in Jippo’s offensive tactic, as the teammates were looking for his head with long balls very often. High balls could be also delivered by the long throw-ins of left-back Lassi Forss, who turned to be supportive not only by these throws. It was delighting to see how the team tried to practice pressure of increased intensity on the opposition defense.

Ekenäs IF, led by coach Christian Sund, opted for a 4-4-2 (double 6) formation, in which Jesper Karlsson and experienced Ghanaian-Swedish player Enoch Kofi Adu were called to fill the “Number 6” positions/roles. The team can be praised for its solid presence at the physical challenges / physical contacts; the players has demonstrated good level of aggressiveness in all phases of the game. The play of the two full-backs/wing-backs (Jakob Gottberg as left-back and Alexander Forsström as right-back) meant to be useful also for the offense, by some cross attempts and progressive runs – plus each of them provided an assist in the first half (scores 1-1 and 1-2).

An interesting incident at Ekenäs IF: Australian-Irish left midfielder Daniel Stynes started the game in the shirt #18, which is related to his teammate Arttu Sivonen (who was sitting on the bench). Stynes changed the shirt to his original one (#24) through the cooling break of the 1st half.

The first goal of the game came up in the 27th minute, when Maximus Tainio (son of Teemu Tainio, former Finnish international player who played for AJ Auxerre, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and AFC Ajax, among others) took the lead for Jippo Joensuu, by his wonderful right-footed ‘rocket’ (1-0 / in the images below). In the 31st minute, Ekenäs IF French defender Thadée Kaleba equalized the score (1-1). Still in the first half, Salomo Ojala (EIF) also found the opposition goal, so the advantage was on the guests’ side in the break (1-2). Only few moments after the start of the second half, the score was equal again: Miro Turunen of Jippo rattled the net by his fantastic right-footed shot (2-2). The game’s last hit came up in the 71st minute, as substitution player Jyri Kiuru took the advantages of an opposing mistake at the back, turning it to the match-deciding goal (3-2).

(The magnificent shot of Jippo Joensuu midfielder Maximus Tainio)

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In the next Ykkösliiga round, Jippo Joensuu will travel to PK-35, while Ekenäs IF will face Turun Palloseura at home.

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