VPS 3-2 Ilves
Last season's third-placed side have picked up just one point from their first four matches this term, as Ilves gave themselves too much to do after what was a perfect first half for VPS, who held on for a first league win of 2026.
The game was only four minutes old when Vilmer Ronnberg fired the home side ahead at a scrappy corner, and VPS were two up after 27 minutes, as Jonathan Muzinga charged down goalkeeper Faris Krkalic's attempted clearance and tapped into the empty net.
But the crucial goal turned out to be VPS' third, which came in first-half added time when Jayden Turfkruier set up Simon Lindholm. Crucial, because Ilves hit back in the second half, beginning with a Jardell Kanga penalty five minutes in, before Oskari Multala scored from a corner just after the hour mark.
However, the Vaasa side managed to shut up shop over the last 30 minutes and hold out for the win with takes them into the top half for the time being on five points. Ilves sit 11th on one point.
TPS 1-1 Gnistan
TPS are enjoying life back in the top flight, third in the standings and still unbeaten thanks to a 94th-minute equaliser that denied Gnistan a first win of the campaign. The Helsinki side did at least earn a first point, but they continue to prop up the table.
Adeleke Akinyemi shrugged off the last defender to get on the end of a long clearance from goalkeeper Alexandro Craninx, before rounding the TPS 'keeper and rolling the ball over the line to give the visitors a 70th minute lead.
And that looked to be that, until deep into stoppage time when Timo Zaal threaded a ball through to Samuel Anini who, from the left side of the area, guided the ball into the opposite bottom corner in style to snatch the draw.
SJK 1-1 Jaro
A goal of the season candidate was scored 10 minutes into the match in Seinajoki, as Luka Wekstrom cut in from the left, took aim from 35 yards and sent an absolute rocket into the top corner to give Jaro the lead.
But winless Jaro were forced to settle for their third successive draw thanks to an equaliser early in the second half, when Elias Mastokangas picked out Jeremiah Streng to score his second of the season for SJK, who are a point and place ahead of Jaro in the table, still with one win to their name.
Two more matches this weekend will be played on Saturday, before the two sides who have dominated the Veikkausliiga for the past decade, KuPS and HJK, meet in Kuopio on Sunday.