Inter Turku take Finnish Cup 2-1 over Tampere United

Last year's League winners step up again

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The Finnish football season came to a close at the weekend with the final of the Finnish FA Cup, played in Helsinki between Tampere United and Inter Turku.
      Inter were the Finnish Veikkaus League Champions in 2008, but could do no better than fifth this season, despite a late run of good form, while Tampere United - one of Finland's more successful clubs in European competition in the past decade and national champions in 2001, 2006, and 2007 - had also missed out on a European berth for next year and were eager to make amends.
     
TamU scored first through Jonne Hjelm after only nine minutes, but Kennedy Nwanganga grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, and in the 77th minute Timo Furuholm volleyed home from close range after a corner.
      The win reinforces the position of Inter's Dutch coach Job Dragtsman, who has managed to bring success to Turku's smaller club - TPS Turku tend to attract more attention and bigger crowds.
     
In the women's cup final, played earlier on Saturday, victory went to Honka of Espoo, who beat HJK Helsinki by the only goal, scored by Satu Kruus some ten minutes from time.          


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Football titles for 2009 go to Helsinki and Åland (19.10.2009)
  Inter secure first-ever Finnish league title (27.10.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat