Pasoja boosts Haka hopes
Wednesday, 13 July 2005
Finnish side FC Haka took a step towards setting up a
Scandinavian derby when they defeated FC Pyunik 1-0 in
the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first
qualifying round encounter in Valkeakoski.
Vålerenga await
Juha Pasoja’s solitary goal left the Armenian visitors
facing an uphill task if they are to progress to the
second qualifying round, where Vålerenga IF, the team
who finished second in Norway last year, lie in wait.
First-half strike
Haka, who won the Finnish First Division in 2004 but
trail leaders Myllykosken Pallo-47 by six points at
the halfway stage of the current campaign, went ahead
through 28-year-old defender Pasoja midway through the
first half.
Damage limitation
However, last season’s runaway Armenian Premier League
champions Pyunik managed to limit the damage and will
hope to overturn the 1-0 deficit when they stage the
second leg next Wednesday.