Nigerian duo inspire HJK to win Finnish Veikkausliiga title

Samuel Ahmadu

Nigerian duo inspire HJK to win Finnish Veikkausliiga title image

Nigerian duo of Vincent Onovo and Faith Obilor were prominent as HJK won the Finnish's Veikkausliiga title despite a 3-2 defeat to Rops on Saturday.

Sakari Tukianinen's brace plus Simo Roiha's strike handed the visitors the victory but was not enough to stop Mika Lehkosuo's men from reclaiming the league diadem.

Obilor featured for 90 minutes while his Nigerian compatriot Onovo was undressed for the encounter with substitute Sani Kaita's side at the Telia 5G Arena.

Juha Malinen's men started well in their bid to avenge a 4-1 home defeat with Tukianinen's 19th-minute strike putting them in front but Akseli Pelvas leveled matters four minutes to the break.

In the second half, Rafinha fired the hosts in front in the 58th minute but Roiha netted the equalizer six minutes later and Tukianinen grabbed the winner at the death.

Despite the defeat, HJK finished atop of Finnish Veikkausliiga with 76 points from 33 games boasting of 20 points advantage over their closest rival, KuPS.

While the Nigerian duo of Onovo and Obilor both made 24 appearances, scoring four and two goals respectively to help their side clinch the Finnish topflight title.

 

Samuel Ahmadu