Roman Eremenko failed to help HIFK to victory.
Roman Eremenko was in HIFK’s starting line-up. MATTI RAIVIO / AOP
FC Inter claimed full points from Helsinki, when Turku defeated HIFK 3–0 in the Veikkausliiga.
In the match, the greatest interest was focused on HIFK’s recent acquisition Roman Eremenkowho was immediately in the starting line-up.
Eremenko was on the field for 63 minutes before being substituted. His last official match was a year and a half ago in Russia.
– Of course, when you haven’t played in two years, it’s a bit of a stretch. It was heavy. I caught my breath quickly, Eremenko, 35, commented after the match at the press conference.
Eremenko was also asked about the cocaine haul six years ago. He gave a doping sample containing cocaine in 2016 after a Champions League match.
– It happened, it was a big event. The whole family suffered. It grew. You can’t change what happened anymore, Eremenko said.
The press still tried to ask a follow-up question. Eremenko was asked if he felt he had to give up a career that might otherwise have happened.
– In my opinion, it’s not worth starting to complain, now let’s move on, HIFK head coach Mixu Paatelainen interrupted.
Eremenko still commented.
– I do think that I would be in Barcelona if it hadn’t happened. For the rest of my life, I will probably have thoughts that if and if, Eremenko said somewhat ironically.
This is how the match went
HIFK had a difficult start to the match when the team captain Sakari Mattila got sent off in the 23rd minute of the game. Mattila was shown two yellow cards within a minute and thus a red card.
– Although you shouldn’t say anything about the red card, it killed us. That was the turning point, Eremenko said.
Inter opened the goal taps quickly after the red card. Only about five minutes had passed since Mattila’s drive out, when Juho Hyvärinen completed Inter’s lead goal Petteri Forsellin for the wonderful preliminary work.
Right at the end of the first episode Aleksi Paananen gave Inter a 2–0 lead.
Tommi Jyry made the final score 3–0 in the second period. Jyry was free to carry the ball inside HIFK’s penalty area and shot the ball into the goal.
HIFK continues in the Veikkausliiga as a jumbo. Inter, on the other hand, is in seventh place after Monday’s match.