Inter Turku 2-4 HJK Helsinki — HJK Helsinki produced a statement away performance in the Finnish Veikkausliiga, defeating Inter Turku 4-2 at the Veritas Stadion in a six-goal contest that swung one way and then firmly back in the visitors’ favour. The win strengthens HJK’s position at the top of the championship group as the season moves into its decisive final stretch.

Match overview

HJK arrived in Turku with the look of a side determined to impose themselves early, and they did exactly that. A high pressing shape forced Inter into several rushed clearances in the opening quarter of an hour, and the breakthrough came when Santeri Haarala curled a low finish beyond the home goalkeeper after a turnover in midfield.

Inter responded well. Eetu Vertainen equalised just after the half-hour mark, racing onto a through ball and finishing confidently at the near post. But HJK restored their lead on the stroke of half-time when Bojan Radulović powered home a header from a corner, giving the visitors a narrow advantage at the interval.

The second half was more open. Inter levelled again from the penalty spot through Petteri Forsell after a handball inside the area, and for a spell the home side looked capable of turning the match around. Instead, HJK reclaimed control in the final 20 minutes. Lucas Lingman struck from range on 72 minutes, and Anthony Olusanya sealed the win on the counter-attack late on.

Key moments

• 12’ — HJK 1-0: Santeri Haarala opens the scoring with a composed low finish after a midfield turnover.
• 31’ — Inter Turku 1-1: Eetu Vertainen beats the offside trap and finishes at the near post.
• 44’ — HJK 2-1: Bojan Radulović heads in from a corner to restore the visitors’ lead before half-time.
• 58’ — Inter Turku 2-2: Petteri Forsell converts a penalty after a handball in the box.
• 72’ — HJK 3-2: Lucas Lingman finds the bottom corner from outside the area.
• 88’ — HJK 4-2: Anthony Olusanya finishes a rapid counter-attack to put the result beyond doubt.

Tactical story

HJK’s 4-3-3 was built around aggressive pressing and quick circulation in midfield. Lingman and Haarala repeatedly found space between Inter’s defensive and midfield lines, while the front three pinned the home full-backs deep. The visitors also dominated the second-ball battle, which allowed them to sustain attacks and recover possession quickly after Inter cleared their lines.

Inter Turku’s 4-2-3-1 initially looked dangerous on the break. Vertainen’s movement caused problems, and Forsell’s set-piece delivery kept HJK honest. However, the home side struggled to maintain pressure for long spells. As the match wore on, Inter’s midfield dropped deeper, and HJK’s substitutes added fresh legs in the wide areas. The final two goals came from exactly that pattern: HJK winning the ball back quickly and attacking before Inter could reset.

Standout players

Lingman was the game’s central figure, combining a goal with control of the tempo. Haarala’s direct running gave HJK an outlet throughout, while Olusanya’s late goal rewarded a lively cameo. For Inter, Vertainen was the brightest attacking threat and Forsell’s penalty briefly brought the home crowd back into the contest. The home goalkeeper made several important saves, but Inter’s defensive line could not withstand HJK’s late surge.

Veikkausliiga table impact

The result keeps HJK Helsinki at the summit of the Veikkausliiga championship group and underlines their credentials as the team to beat in the run-in. For Inter Turku, the defeat is a dent to their European qualification hopes, especially with direct rivals still to play. Inter remain in the chasing pack, but they will need a swift response in their next fixture to keep pace in the race for a top-three finish.

With the season entering its final rounds, the margin for error is shrinking. HJK’s ability to score four times away from home against a direct competitor is a powerful statement, while Inter must regroup quickly after a night of encouragement and frustration in equal measure.