WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 4/24/2016 Features More Red Cards than Goals, Opening Day for Ykkonen in Finland

You would think that American Players fill the lower leagues of Finland based on the number on the rosters for today's opening day. But actually the numbers a down quite a bit. Finland, especially the lower leagues, has been a favorite of young Americans entering the pro leagues, but now, with the expansions of NASL and USL the numbers are much lower. Following the Leagues in Finland has always been a favorite thing for me, so I am happy that there are still enough to keep track of. 
Not a big goals day today, actually only 1, there were more red cards than goals, 2. There were a few games with Promotion/Relegation implications, and a couple of players who appeared on their teams rosters for the first time.
OK lets go to the list.  


Haji Wright started and went 90 as Schalke U19 visited FC Koln and played to a 1 - 1 draw

Devann Yao started and went 70 minutes as BAK07 visited Schonberg in a Regionalliga Nordost game that ended scoreless

Caleb Stanko (90) and Freiburg II hosted Russell Canouse (90) and Hoffenheim II in a game that saw Hoffenheim II victors 1 - 2 in Regionalliga Sudwest

Andrew Wooten (13) and Sandhausen faced off with FSV Frankfurt and Shawn Barry (90) in Germany 2Liga with Sandhausen gaining the 3 points as they win 1 - 0

Alejandro Bedoya played the final 15 minutes as Nantes visited Marseille in France Ligue 1 and came away with a point in a 1 - 1 draw

Patrick Tshiani started for KRC Mechelen, and went the 90, in Belgium's 3rd Division as KRC won 2 - 1 against Aalst

Alassane Kane Scored DJK Bamberg's first goal as they visited Burglengenfeld in Oberliga Bayern and came away with a 2 - 2 draw

Will John came off the bench at minute 63, as Rovaniemi hosted PK-35 in Finland's Veikkausliiga and won 1 - 0

In his debut for EIF Ekenas, GK Tim Murray found it hard going as they visited Mike Banner and KPV and fell 2 - 0 in their Finland Ykkonen opening league game

Jochen Graf was in the 18 (DNP) for Oskarshamns as they visited Kristianstads in Sweden's Division 1 where it ended up a 1 - 1 draw

Etchu Tabe has joined Haka in Finland Ykkonen, he was in the 18 today (DNP) good to see him find a new team. Haka beat TPS Turku in their season opener 2 - 1

Daniel Stevens joined GrIFK in January, in today's game GrIFK beat Oulu in Finland Ykkonen 1 - 0 with Dan in the 18 (DNP)

Also in Ykkonen, Isaac Kannah, who is a dual US/Liberia, went 90 as his team KTP drw with JJK Jyvaskyla

DeAndre Yedlin started and went 90 as Sunderland held Arsenal to a Goalless draw in the EPL. The Relegation battle between Sunderland, Norwich and Newcastle looks likely to go down to the wire - with only 1 point separating the 3 teams

In Finland's Veikkausliiga Brian Span and Mariehamn played HJK to a goalless draw, Brian went 80 minutes and picked up a yellow card

Fabian Johnson came off the bench at the 81st minute as M'Gladbach welcomed Hoffenheim in Bundesliga, in a game with European football implications for M'Gladbach and relegation implications for Hoffenheim. M'Gladbach won 3 - 1and are in 5th (Europa League spot) Hoffenheim are 2 points clear of the drop zone

In Norway's Tippeligaen, Molde visited Sarpsborg and hit a brick wall as they were trounced 4 - 0. an unusual feeling for GK Ethan Horvath.

Oh Dear, in Denmark's Superliga, George Fochive went 90 + 3 for Viborg before recieving his 2nd Yellow/Red card. Viborg scored first and held on till #1 FC Copenhagen equalized late. George received his yellow/red in an 8 minute span, as Viborg played Copenhagen to a 1 - 1 draw

In Sweden Superettan, Patrick Hopkins started and went 90 and Paul Torres made the 18 (DNP) as Sirius visited Varnamo and played to a goalless draw.

Brendan Hines-Ike started on the bench(DNP) for Orebro in Sweden's Allsvenskan as they beat Goteborg 3 - 2

Douglas Bentley on the bench for AlbinoLeffe, until minute 84, in Italy Lega Pro (Group A) game at Reggiana. AlbinoLeffe put on a late run but fell short 2 - 1

Rubio Ruben on the bench (DNP) for Utrecht in KNVB Beker Final as they fell 2 - 1 to Feyenoord (to an official OG by Utrecht's GK)

AJ Soares started for Viking as they visited #1 Rosenborg in Norway Tippeligaen went the 90 and picked up a yellow card as Viking were trounced 4 - 0 by the league leaders

Alex de John in 18 (DNP) for Start in Norway Tippeligaen as they visit Valerenga and were beaten 2 - 0

Nermin Crnkic started for Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia's Fortuna liga as they hosted cellar dweller Skalica Nermin only played the first half as Bratislava's coach made a mass substitution to start the 2nd half - Slovan win 2 - 0

Kenny Saif started for Gent as they take on Genk in an away game that will help decide a European spot next season (Gent #3 Genk #4) Kenny received a straight Red in minute 44 - not good. Gent did win the game 1 - 2 on a 90 + 2 PK