Finland round-up: Jaro clinch final place

FF Jaro secured a 3-2 victory over AC Allianssi on Saturday and moved into eighth place in the Veikkausliiga table.

Final round
With 22 matches of Finnish first division now completed, the top eight teams will play each other once in the final round to decide the champions while the remaining four teams enter the promotion/relegation group.

Cleaver saves the day
Newly promoted Allianssi were forced to play with only ten men for much of the match after defender Heikki Pulkkinen received his marching orders early on. The decisive goal came in the final minute of the match when Jaro striker Chris Cleaver headed his second goal of the night to clinch all three points for the Pietarsaari club.

Sampo on target
KuPS Kuopio, Jaro's main rivals for eighth spot, managed a 1-0 win against FC Hämeenlinna but it was a case of too little, too late as they missed out on qualification for the final round. Striker Peter Sampo scored the only goal to settle a hard-fought encounter in Väinölänniemi.

MyPa hanging on
Myllykosken Pallo-47 secured three valuable points from their trip as Mika Hernesniemi scored to sink title-holders Tampere United. Meanwhile, FC Haka lost ground on leaders HJK Helsinki after being held to a goalless draw by FC Inter Turku.