AC Oulu beat Gnistan in Helsinki on Sunday in the Veikkausliiga Championship Group, while Inter Turku defeated VPS. Oulu moved a point ahead of Gnistan in the final European place, and Inter went four points clear of their two nearest challengers before the two challengers met in Helsinki on Sunday.
Oulu win seven-goal game in Helsinki
Seven goals were scored in Helsinki and the majority went the way of visitors AC Oulu. Mikko Pitkanen headed in a Rasmus Karjalainen corner in the fifth minute to give Oulu the lead.
Five minutes later, Iiro Mendolin flicked in another Karjalainen corner at the near post. Midway through the first half, Sergei Eremenko scored for Gnistan with a first-time strike from 25 yards.
Rasmus Karjalainen followed up his own saved shot to score just before the break. Six minutes after the break, Adam Jouhi played a one-two with Saku Ylatupa and scored for Gnistan.
Five minutes from time, Roope Riski sent Lamine Ghezali away following a Gnistan corner, and Ghezali scored for 4-2. Adam Jouhi scored again in added time for Gnistan, but it was only a consolation.
Table changes in European race
AC Oulu went a point ahead of Gnistan in the final European place. Gnistan were overtaken by Oulu in the table with three matches still to play.
Inter Turku return to winning ways
Inter Turku beat VPS and returned to winning ways after defeat to Oulu. VPS stay bottom of the Championship Group following successive defeats, and the Vaasa side are four points off the European places.
The first half was extended after a clash of heads between VPS' Yassin Daoussi and FC Inter goalkeeper Eetu Huuhtonen, and Daoussi had to be substituted. In first-half added time, Alie Conteh came closest for VPS with a header that dropped wide.
Janne-Pekka Laine received a second yellow card with 13 minutes to play. In the 84th minute, Lauri Laine scored the winner after collecting Eeli Kiiskila's pass on the left, cutting inside and shooting past Mamadou Jalloh.