KuPS hold off AC Oulu challenge to go top of the early Veikkausliiga table

[p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ac-oulu-Y35Jer59/kups-nLBbqJDS/?mid=6uC67UDb"]KuPS 3-2 AC Oulu[/a][/b][/p][p]The reigning champions had made a solid start to the new campaign with seven points from their first three games, but the only side with a better record were today's visitors Oulu, who had been the surprise package with three wins from three so far.[/p][p]However, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kups/nLBbqJDS/"]KuPS[/a] began the game looking to quickly stamp their authority, and were ahead after just five minutes thanks to a flowing move which saw[b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/savolainen-saku/hdH9Hfdt/"]Saku Savolainen[/a] slip the ball through to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruoppi-otto/QqHLjPgi/"]Otto Ruoppi[/a], who executed a brilliant backheel across the area for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/armah-bob-nii/4nbMBYMa/"]Bob Armah[/a] to strike home.[/b][/p][p]But the Kuopio side failed to press home their advantage - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moreno-jaime/SnTwttL9/"]Jaime Moreno[/a]'s purple patch appeared to be ending as he had a handful of efforts, none of which troubled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/santos-miguel/CM3IVPMO/"]Miguel Santos[/a] in the Oulu goal, and the hosts were made to pay late in the first half.[/p][p]Following a couple of efforts from range that went close, the visitors' were given the perfect chance to equalise when [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kaukua-tuomas/b1SlPC51/"]Tuomas Kaukua[/a] was caught inside the area by Savolainen, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/karjalainen-rasmus/0vdJdbrC/"]Rasmus Karjalainen[/a] buried the penalty to send the sides in level at the break.[/b][/p][embed guid="137b07ec-a203-4077-ba96-6f3384eae2b7" url="https://x.com/Veikkausliiga/status/2046973614889615549" social-type="twitter" /][p]Yet it took the home side all of two second-half minutes to retake the lead and for [b]Moreno to prove he was still in fine form, even if he needed a deflection on his shot from the edge of the area to beat the goalkeeper[/b] to score his fourth in as many games this season.[/p][p]Once again, [b]Karjalainen was KuPS' undoing, as in the 64th minute, he tapped home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/korkko-julius/M3Az5iLk/"]Julius Korkko[/a]'s centre which somehow [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kreidl-johannes/U5piqW3F/"]Johannes Kreidl[/a] failed to gather[/b], allowing the striker to go level with Moreno with four for the season after also netting a brace in round one.[/p][p]But with two assists already, it was fitting that the final say went to [b]Ruoppi, as he found a way through and scored unassisted with 13 minutes to play[/b], but this time there wasn't to be a response from Oulu, whose perfect start comes to an end. KuPS move on to 10 points from four games, one point clear of today's opponents.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/finland/veikkausliiga/"]Follow the 2026 Veikkausliiga season on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]