Lahti and VPS share the points after Inter Turku retain top spot in Veikkausliiga
Lahti 1-1 VPS
Monday night's fixture to round off the weekend saw Lahti aiming to return to winning ways after losing to HJK in their previous outing, but they faced a tough challenge against a VPS side that had been rising up the table following a sluggish start, having collected seven points from their last three matches.
This proved the case late in the first half when Luka Smyth regained possession in the middle of the Lahti half, advanced into the penalty area and slotted his second goal of the campaign into the bottom corner.
However, the home side were not behind for long; two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the half, Daniel Heikkinen had a go from the edge of the box. The effort was blocked but fell kindly for Cristobal Montiel, who hammered home his first Veikkausliiga goal.
The visitors from Vaasa had a golden chance to regain the lead early in the second half after Romaric Yapi fouled an opponent inside the area, but Smyth's finishing let him down as he missed the penalty.
That was one of several opportunities that came Smyth's way in the second period, but Lahti consistently frustrated the Australian and held on for a 1-1 draw. They remain eighth in the standings with eight points, while VPS are two points and two places ahead.
SJK 1-3 Inter Turku
Still sitting clear at the summit are Inter Turku, who secured consecutive away victories by beating SJK. Alie Conteh and Johannes Yli-Kokko put the visitors two goals ahead within nine minutes; then Rangel missed the opportunity to reduce the deficit when he failed to convert a penalty shortly after. Clinton Jephta made it three just before the hour mark, and Elias Mastokangas netted a consolation in the 90th minute for SJK, who have managed only one win all season.
HJK 2-2 Ilves
Ilves also have just one victory from seven matches, having twice squandered the lead away at HJK, who move up to fourth despite only one win in their last five games. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster scored just before the interval to cancel out Maksim Stjopin's opener, and after Stjopin grabbed his second in the 59th minute, Mads Borchers equalised with seven minutes remaining. Mihailo Bogicevic received a second yellow card late on, but the Lynx could not find a winner in stoppage time.
Gnistan 5-0 Jaro
After three straight defeats to begin the season, Gnistan are now four games unbeaten and really hit their stride by thrashing bottom-of-the-table Jaro with five goals. Adeleke Akinyemi broke the deadlock just before the break, but an own goal from Michael Ogungbaro opened the floodgates early in the second half. Akinyemi added his second, before Rachide Gnanou and Joakim Latonen completed the rout.
Mariehamn 1-1 KuPS
Like Jaro, Mariehamn are still without a Veikkausliiga win this season, but a point at home against KuPS extends their unbeaten run to two matches, while the champions stay third despite failing to win in four. Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba put the Kuopio side ahead in the 35th minute, just seconds after coming on as a substitute, but the hosts equalised only seven minutes later through Anttoni Huttunen.
AC Oulu 1-0 TPS
In second place, two points behind Inter Turku, are AC Oulu, who returned to winning ways by handing newly promoted TPS their first defeat of the season. The only goal arrived just before the hour mark, courtesy of Rasmus Karjalainen, and although the hosts had Tuomas Kaukua sent off in stoppage time after receiving two yellow cards in three minutes, the Turku side could not find a late equaliser.