IFK Helsingfors — Mikkelin Jukurit: 4:7, Liiga

IFK Helsingfors lost 4:7 to Mikkelin Jukurit in the Liiga on Tuesday evening. The result reversed the form from their meeting nine days ago, when Helsingfors had been beaten 3:1 at home. Things came to a head in a match where neither side held back, and the visitors proved far more clinical in front of goal.

We had given a prediction for a Helsingfors win, confidence sitting at 59 per cent, but the match went another way entirely. One mistake ends it in these games, and the home side made too many of them. By then the visitors had already established a rhythm that the hosts could not disrupt.

Helsingfors sit fifteenth in the table with five games played, one victory and four defeats, still waiting for their first point. Jukurit occupy second place after seven matches, five wins and two losses, though they too have yet to earn any points on paper. The gap between them on the standings may be small, but the performances tell a different story.

The visitors had already beaten Helsingfors earlier this month and now extended that advantage with a comprehensive away win. They can spring a surprise but this was no upset — Jukurit simply outplayed their opponents over the full ninety minutes. The home side will need to reflect on what went wrong.