Yesterday’s match at Lammi was another addition to a series of difficult away matches. Just like in the previous match at Janakkala as well as at Vesilahti earlier in the season, the home team scored the first goal early on in the first half. From there on the match looked quite difficult. However, just like many times before this season, at about the hour mark the opponent started to show signs of getting tired, and the match started to get much easier for us. In the end the two goals scored within less than ten minutes of each other were enough for the 1-2 (1-0) win.

The supporters arrived in Lammi just over an hour before the kick-off, and after dropping the team off at the field where the match was to be played, we decided to spend the hour in a local bar. They were positively overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of a group of more than 30 men, but obviously were happy for the business that we brought. When they figured out that we had come to see the football match, it seemed to be a combination of being surprised and showing respect. I don’t think that they had ever seen something like that in that small town.

The first ten minutes of the match were very difficult for us. We did not seem to get the ball moving at all on the wet grass, and did not create any sort of chances. This seems to be becoming a dangerous habit for us. The positive is that the team has never shown any signs of losing faith in the eventual victory, and instead keeps executing the game-plan with full belief that it will eventually lead to goal and a victory. This is a team that is very strong mentally. However, eventually we might meet the team that is able to exploit a weak start from us, and then we could be in trouble.

The season has reached the half-way point, and of course with full 33 points from 11 matches and only 5 goals conceded, there cannot be any huge complaints. However, it is evident that we need to keep the foot on pedal or we will start dropping points. We are now facing the teams in our division for the second time, and that changes the dynamics too. We are no longer an unknown factor to anybody. Combine that with the fact that on a few occasions we have gotten really close to dropping points, and it is clear that the work rate must remain high.

The one piece of bad news yesterday was that Jacin Dakkaki hurt his back in the warm-ups, and was not able to play at all. Only time will tell if this will keep him out from future matches too. On the positive side, Ahmed Lakra, Kemal Dedic, Antti Eijamo, and Otto Pitkänen all got some good minutes off the bench. Hopefully they all can put their injuries behind them. Eijamo even scored the winning goal yesterday, and it was great to see his energy after that goal as he ran to the supporters. Another special moment for the club.

Next up we have Tampereen Palloilijat (TaPa) in a home match, which will be played in Kauppi on Thursday next week. The unusual location for our home match is due to that this match was originally supposed to be played in May, but got moved to make room for our Regions’ Cup fixture. Regardless, all the usual elements of a TamU-K home match will be there, now with the addition of the brand new barbecue that was donated to the club by a sponsor. The sausages will be tastier than ever!

LaVe – TamU-K 1-2 (1-0)
9 min 1-0 Joni Salo
62 min 1-1 Jan Irjala
70 min 1-2 Antti Eijamo

Discipline:
59 min Mika Kytöviita, TamU-K (caution)
73 min Harri Majuri, LaVe (caution)
89 min Petri Vadén, TamU-K (caution)
90 min Vesa Suonsyrjä, TamU-K (caution)