HJK Academy Women secured a 3-1 victory over Honka Women in the Relegation Play-Off - 4 of the Kansallisen Liiha on Saturday evening. The result concludes what had been a particularly strong run for the home side, who arrived at this fixture full of momentum after four consecutive wins. To be fair, anyone watching that sequence would expect Honka to be confident heading into a crucial play-off encounter.
The visitors came into this match having won their previous game 6-1 against JyPK, a result that suggested attacking intent. Honka, meanwhile, had been difficult to break down, recording three clean sheets in their last four victories. The contrast in form made this a mismatch on paper, though play-off football rarely follows expectations.
Honka's run of results before Saturday read 2-1 against PK-35 Vantaa, 2-0 versus ViPK, 1-0 over EBC, and another 1-0 win against PKKU. That fourth straight victory should have given them every reason to believe they could navigate this stage. And here's the thing — play-off football tends to expose whatever cracks exist beneath the surface.
HJK Academy's performance carried a different energy. Their 6-1 triumph the week before demonstrated they could punish opponents, and they brought that same approach to Helsinki. The 1-3 defeat for Honka represents more than just a loss in the standings — it shifts the balance in what has been an open relegation bracket.
What matters now is how both teams respond. Honka must find a way to regain their defensive solidity after three clean sheets went unanswered. HJK Academy will be looking to build on the confidence from their recent results and maintain their position in the play-off structure.