Oulu beaten again as Inter Turku go joint-top of Veikkausliiga with Mariehamn win

Lahti 2-1 AC Oulu

Following three straight victories, a 3-2 midweek defeat against KuPS barely affected AC Oulu's strong season opening, yet this loss felt different, allowing Lahti to secure their initial points beyond the first matchday.

Lahti needed just five minutes to go ahead, as a lofted delivery into the six-yard area got redirected for Martim Augusto, who unleashed a powerful right-footed volley from 12 yards into the goal.

During the remainder of the first period, Oulu created openings to draw level, believing they had succeeded in the 45th minute via a Julius Korkko effort ruled offside amid controversy, and matters deteriorated further when Neemias headed home Romain Sans's corner shortly afterwards.

The away team earned a deserved strike halfway through the second half, thanks to tidy play near the opponent's goal leading to Rasmus Karjalainen setting up Korkko outside the area, where his 20-yard thunderbolt stood valid this time.

However, that proved insufficient for Oulu, marking consecutive losses, while Lahti, who halted their own skid, hold sixth place with six points accumulated.

Inter Turku 1-0 Mariehamn

Inter Turku claimed a third successive triumph, now trailing leaders KuPS solely on goal difference following a tight victory against Mariehamn, who stay without a win in 10th position after home draws and away defeats.

The journey to Turku overwhelmed Mariehamn early on, with the hosts registering 10 attempts to the visitors' single effort, though FC Inter squandered their chances, leaving the score blank at the break.

A challenging match for the home team turned rewarding 12 minutes before the end, as Jussi Niska's lofted pass to the far upright was headed downward by Alie Conteh, his effort slipping past the goalkeeper near the post to clinch the result for Turku.