OLS secured a 4-2 victory over TPV in the Ykkönen Group Stage on Tuesday evening. The home side took the lead through M. Akbal, who struck twice in the opening half. TPV fought back with two goals from E. Raittinen, but OLS held firm and added a fourth through E. Merikanto late on.
It was Akbal who opened the scoring in the seventeenth minute, well before the twentieth-minute mark when the game really settled into rhythm. He doubled the advantage four minutes later, and Merikanto made it three before the break. By then OLS had found their footing, even if TPV refused to lie down.
Raittinen pulled one back in the fiftieth minute and levelled shortly after. For a time it looked as though the visitors might rescue something, but Merikanto restored OLS' lead in the seventy-fourth minute. The home side had dominated possession at sixty-two per cent and registered twelve shots on target to TPV's nine.
There were three bookings for the visitors, with J. Venemies the only OLS player cautioned. Kostiainen, Akbal and Kemppainen came off for OLS in the second half, while Lotvonen was brought on for TPV. The hosts maintained their control without needing to chase the game.
OLS sit fifth with twenty-two points from twenty-two matches. TPV remain ninth on twenty-four points, but that result leaves them further behind the pack. The home side have not won since their last outing before this one, but Tuesday's performance suggests they fancy their chances going forward.