RoPS Rovaniemi 3:1 SalPa: Ykkönen Match Result

Match report

ROPS Rovaniemi beat SalPa 3-1 in the Jääkönen group stage on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The hosts took all three points at home and moved three clear of their opponents in the table, with 44 points to 42 after 25 matches each.

And here's the thing — the opening goal came quick. Twenty-two minutes in, T. Varhi found the net to put ROPS ahead, and he doubled it twelve minutes later at the 40th minute. SalPa clawed one back just before the break when F. Heiserholt scored at 45+3, but the visitors could not recover after O. Jakonen restored the two-goal cushion at half-time.

We had called for a home win at 42 per cent confidence and that prediction came through. It was not a dominant display, but ROPS took their chances when they mattered. SalPa created more attacks — 101 to 96 — yet their shots on target were fewer, four against eight.

The yellow cards tell part of the story. Heiserholt picked up two bookings within a minute of each other at 23 and 24 minutes, while Yao, Mantymaki, Nijgh and Ndakala were also cautioned. The sixth card at 68 minutes was not attributed to a player.

Substitutions came thick and fast after the break. T. Varhi was taken off at 68 minutes despite his two goals, and SalPa brought on three players at 69 minutes. ROPS made changes at 78 and 90+2 minutes, with K. Isometsa the last to enter the pitch.

What matters is the gap. ROPS sit second with 44 points, SalPa third with 42. The result ends SalPa's momentum from their 6-4 win over Tampere United on 19 September, and gives the hosts something to build on as the group stage closes.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 49 – 51

Shots on target 8 – 4

Shots off target 3 – 5

Attacks 96 – 101

🟨 21' K. Yao — Yellow card ⚽ 22' T. Varhi — Goal 🟨 23' F. Heiserholt — Yellow card 🟨 24' F. Heiserholt — Yellow card ⇄ 39' J. Kauko — Substitution ⚽ 40' T. Varhi — Goal ⚽ 45+3' F. Heiserholt — Goal ⚽ 53' O. Jakonen — Goal 🟨 62' V. Mantymaki — Yellow card 🟨 68' Yellow card ⇄ 68' T. Varhi — Substitution ⇄ 69' J. Kostian — Substitution ⇄ 69' M. Lulli — Substitution 🟨 74' B. Nijgh — Yellow card 🟨 78' J. Ndakala — Yellow card ⇄ 78' K. Yao — Substitution ⇄ 78' N. Jokiniemi — Substitution ⇄ 80' S. McLeod — Substitution ⇄ 90+2' K. Isometsa — Substitution

Match events

21' 0:0 SalPa Yellow card K. Yao
22' 1:0 RoPS Rovaniemi Goal T. Varhi
23' 1:0 RoPS Rovaniemi Yellow card F. Heiserholt
24' 1:0 RoPS Rovaniemi Yellow card F. Heiserholt
39' 1:0 SalPa Substitution J. Kauko off: O. Jakonen
40' 2:0 RoPS Rovaniemi Goal T. Varhi
45+3' 3:0 RoPS Rovaniemi Goal F. Heiserholt
53' 3:1 SalPa Goal O. Jakonen
62' 3:1 RoPS Rovaniemi Yellow card V. Mantymaki
68' 3:1 RoPS Rovaniemi Yellow card
68' 3:1 RoPS Rovaniemi Substitution T. Varhi off: A. Savolainen
69' 3:1 SalPa Substitution J. Kostian off: E. Rrustemi
69' 3:1 SalPa Substitution M. Lulli off: L. Pan
74' 3:1 RoPS Rovaniemi Yellow card B. Nijgh
78' 3:1 SalPa Yellow card J. Ndakala
78' 3:1 SalPa Substitution K. Yao off: T. Dementjeff
78' 3:1 SalPa Substitution N. Jokiniemi off: R. Ruponen
80' 3:1 RoPS Rovaniemi Substitution S. McLeod off: A. Oinas
90+2' 3:1 RoPS Rovaniemi Substitution K. Isometsa off: T. Listo

Statistics

49 Possession, % 51

8 Shots on target 4

3 Shots off target 5

96 Attacks 101

5 Corners 6

3 Free kicks 3

1 Offsides 0

4 Yellow cards 2

0 Red cards 0

5 Goal kicks 2

8 Throw-ins 11

Match prediction: RoPS Rovaniemi — SalPa

Win: RoPS Rovaniemi

Confidence 42%

Reasoning

РОПС Рованиэми — 3. place, 41 points after 24 games (11 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses)
СальПа — 2. place, 42 points after 24 games (12 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses)
РОПС Рованиэми, last 5 games: 1 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses
СальПа, last 5 games: 4 wins, 1 losses
Head-to-head: 2 games, РОПС Рованиэми — 0, 2 draws, СальПа — 0

Full prediction

Analytical content. Not a call to gamble. 18+

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RoPS Rovaniemi

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