RECAP: VPS 0 - 2 TPS Arch Bell - Sunday, August 16, 2009
Lawrence Smith and VPS got tripped up at home by league co-leaders TPS in Sunday Veikkausliiga action at Hietalahti Stadium in Vaasa.
For the third match in a row, Smith only saw 45 minutes of action as the South Carolina native was brought in as a second half substitute by head coach Petri Vuorinen.
TPS showed why they are one of the teams to be reckoned with this year in Finland as the visitors from Turku started the scoring early with a goal in the third minute.
Mikko Paatelainen was the recipient of a perfect counterattack produced by the TPS offense as the forward calmly drilled a shot past VPS goalkeeper Henri Sillanpää pumping up the dozen visiting fans in the stands.
Much like last week's match, Smith replaced Pekka Kainu at intermission and had a chance at equalizing in the 69th minute but the former Georgia Southern standout missed the target.
Just two minutes later TPS doubled the margin and effectively ended the match when forward Mika Ääritalo made an impressive run down the left side and then passed to Nigerian Babtunde Wusu who touched the ball to Fulham loanee Wayne Brown who fired the ball home.
The loss keeps VPS stuck in eighth place with 26 points as Smith and company hit the road next weekend to take on RoPS.
Currently visting YA: 333 
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