пятница, 18 января 2013 г.

Home and Away: Fener too for their hosts in Turkish cup

Dirk Kuyt is plying his trade for Fenerbahce now - and scored in their last cup game.

Jonno Turner turns to the continent for his two Home and Away selections today.

We're off to Finland for our first pick of the day - and Lahti host JJK at the Lahden Stadion, looking to kick off the new campaign in style by securing a victory in the Finnish Cup.

Boss Tommi Kautonen will be delighted with his sides performance last year, and the Mustat Kuhnurit ended the season placed fifth in the Veikkausliiga following promotion from the second tier Ykkonen the season before.

The hosts ended the season in style, with half a dozen consecutive wins on their own patch, and they will be desperate to continue that momentum into the new campaign here.

Fourteen goals scored in that time shows that the home side had a wealth of attacking talent then - and they have kept hold of their forwards for the new season too.

Visitors JJK finished last campaign in miserable form, losing four in a row away from the Harjun Stadion - a run which saw them finish in ninth place.

Their season ended with a confidence-busting 6-3 home thrashing at the hands of HJK, and boss Kari Martonen will be keen to put that right as soon as possible.

The Ketut will have had plenty of time to dwell on that October defeat, and it will be interesting to see how they respond here.

Lahti have not lost to JJK in five meetings at the Lahden, and I'm backing the home side to take victory in this one too - at decent odds.

Bet 1: FC Lahti (HOME) @ 2.22

Over to Turkey now, as Fenerbahce travel to Bursaspor looking to continue their excellent run of results in the cup.

The visitors have been in cracking form in this competition, and go into this clash having won their last six consecutive ties - and they haven't even conceded a goal in that time.

Fifteen goals scored in their last half a dozen cup games suggests that Fener boss Aykut Kocaman is taking this trophy seriously, and the away side sit top of their group going into this one.

Hosts Bursaspor have won just one of their last four ahead of this clash, and that could have knocked confidence down at Bursa Ataturk Stadium.

A 2-1 loss to Sivasspor in their last cup tie has left the Yesil Timsahlar in second place in the group, but on level points with third, and they will be desperate for a positive performance here - with home advantage.

But Fener have not lost to their hosts in six meetings, and I think that their momentum could pay dividends in this encounter.

Bet 2: Fenerbahce (AWAY) @ 2.78

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