ILVES v HAKA – Pick: Over 2.5 – 16 July 2014

Goals in top half clash

International Football Tips

Football – Finland – Ykkonen

Wednesday 16th July 2014 – Kickoff: 1730hrs

Third placed Ilves Tampere will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to an impressive twelve matches when they host fifth placed Haka in Wednesday night’s encounter at their Tammelan Stadion.

This fantastic run of form has lifted Ilves into third place but they still remain eight points adrift of Ykkonen league leaders Koo Tee Pee. However, with a game in hand, taking three points tonight would reduce the deficit and perhaps increase the pressure on the current league leaders.

Ilves have every chance of claiming all three points tonight too as they’ve won three of their last five at home with recent wins over JIPPO 3-0, tonight’s visitors Haka 2-1 and Vikingit 2-1 along with points taken off league leaders Koo Tee Pee and fourth placed HIFK Helsinki.

Their overall home record stands at  4-2-0  13/6 and they have the fourth best defensive record at home in the division as well as failing to score on just one occasion so far this season on home turf. In addition, Ilves beat Haka the last time these two met 2-1.

 

Visitors Haka are also enjoying a good run of form albeit shorter than their hosts’ run, but they’ve gone four matches without defeat recently with wins over JJK 3-0 away and a 3-1 home win over Koo Tee Pee which was a solid result for them.

In between these wins were draws with AC Oulu and Jazz 0-0 and 3-3 respectively, while their away form has been a bit hold and cold overall – a record of  2-2-2  10/8 but they’ve shown they are capable of scoring goals on the road (joint second highest goalscorers away from home in the division behind leaders Koo Tee Pee).

They’ve failed to score just twice away from home and with attacking personnel such as forward Multanen (10 goals), who also scored twice against Koo Tee Pee recently, they look good for a goal here tonight also.

 

To sum up, I reckon we’ll see a few goals here tonight with both teams keen to push on up the table so I’ll back the Over 2.5 here with perhaps a 2-1 scoreline.

Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.80 Betsson