KuPS back in the big time
Monday, October 18, 2004
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Season review: KuPS Kuopio and IFK Mariehamn were promoted while FC Haka are Finnish champions.
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By Mikael Erävuori
With FC Haka having claimed the title in September, focus shifted to the promotion and relegation tussles in October. FC Hämeenlinna were relegated having won just three out of 26 matches, while KuPS Kuopio returned to the Veikkausliiga after a season in the first division. IFK Mariehamn then beat FC Jazz in a play-off to become the first club from the island of Åland to reach the top flight.
Jazz blues
Jazz had started well, but a run of 15 games without victory left them fighting for survival against surprise package Mariehamn. After finishing second behind KuPS to earn a play-off place, Mariehamn won the home leg 1-0, prompting the sacking of Jazz coach Seppo Sairanen. The inexperienced Sami Rintanen was put in charge for the return, but Jazz could only draw 2-2 and so dropped out of the élite for the first time since 1991.
Haka joy
Haka had begun the season slowly, yet once they hit the top early in the summer, there was little doubt they would win the league. Haka were eventually crowned champions with an eleven-point advantage over AC Allianssi who, like Tampere United and FC International Turku, had threatened to challenge, but could not match Haka for consistency.
Allianssi second
That trio fought for second place until the final round, with Allianssi taking the coveted UEFA Cup spot by winning 3-2 away to Haka in a thrilling match on 2 October. Tampere were 2-1 victors at Myllykosken Pallo-47 on the final day, but ended up a point behind Allianssi. Inter Turku were fourth, with neighbours FC TPS Turku surprisingly fifth.
HJK slide
Defending champions HJK Helsinki had to settle for sixth place, and FC Lahti, in seventh, and MyPa, in eighth, would also have hoped for better. Promoted sides Tornion Pallo-47, who finished tenth, and Rovaniemi PS both avoided the drop, with the latter climbing the league to finish 12th once Mika Lumijärvi had replaced György Hamori as coach.
Touru's touch
FF Jaro too benefited from a coaching change, with Hannu Touru guiding the team to eleventh position after inheriting a struggling side from Sixten Boström. FC KooTeePee, who had been invited to join the league in place of FC Jokerit, impressed on their way to ninth, signing off with a goalless draw at Jazz.