KuPS clinches Finnish football championship with narrow victory over HJK in Kuopio

The Finnish football championship was decided on Saturday evening when KuPS narrowly defeated HJK 1-0, securing the title with their victory. Ilves also had a chance to claim the championship, depending on the outcome of the match in Kuopio, which would have needed to end in a draw or a win for HJK. Fans in Tampere held their breath until the final moments of the match.

“We supported HJK the whole time here. Their championship depended on this. But there’s nothing we can do,” said Mikko Sorsa, who attended the game with his family.

Ilves wrapped up their Veikkausliiga season stylishly with a convincing 4-0 win against SKJ. Despite this high-scoring victory, they finished second in the championship race. For the supporters, silver was not a shame but rather a mark of success.

Tamperelainen Anna Kärppä, who watched every game this season either live or on television, regarded the second place as a major achievement. “It feels really amazing when considering this season’s circumstances. We were almost relegated, but we fought back to have an incredible season.”

Ilves’ only Finnish championship title dates back to 1983, with two silver medals, the latest from 2017. They also have two bronze medals from 1984 and 2017. “It’s a wonderful achievement to return to the podium after a few years. The game was similar to how it’s been all autumn,” commented Toni Tumanoff.

Tammelan Stadium was packed with supporters, with chants echoing long after the results were finalized. Ilves’ head coach Joonas Rantanen also perceived the silver medal as a win, despite the immediate disappointment, and extended congratulations to KuPS on their championship success.