2023 Kakkonen

Football league season

KakkonenSeason| 2023

|

Champions| PK-35 Vantaa
Promoted| Atlantis (to Ykkönen)
EPS (to Ykkönen)
Jazz Pori (to Ykkönen)
JIPPO (to Ykkösliiga)
Klubi 04 (to Ykkönen)
OLS (to Ykkönen)
PK Keski-Uusimaa (to Ykkönen)
PK-35 Vantaa (to Ykkösliiga)
RoPS (to Ykkönen)
VIFK (to Ykkönen)
Relegated| Futura
Hercules
JBK
PIF
SexyPöxyt
TiPS

← 2022

2024 →

The 2023 Kakkonen was the 51st season of Kakkonen, the third-highest football league in Finland. The season began on 21 April 2023 and ended on 8 October 2023. It was the final season of the Kakkonen serving as the third-tier football league in Finland, following its demotion to fourth-tier.

The three groups winners and the highest-ranked runner up qualified for the Kakkonen Championship play-offs, with the winners (PK-35 Vantaa) and runners-up (JIPPO) being promoted to the 2024 Ykkösliiga.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth-placed teams in each group (minus the highest-ranked runner-up) qualified for the Kakkonen play-offs; the five winners (Atlantis, Klubi 04, PK Keski-Uusimaa, RoPS, and VIFK) joined the highest-ranked runner-up (Jazz Pori), the two losing semi-final teams from the Kakkonen Championship play-offs (EPS and OLS), and the two teams relegated from the 2023 Ykkönen (JJK and KPV) in the 2024 Ykkönen.

The bottom two teams in each group (Futura, Hercules, JBK, PIF, SexyPöxyt, and TiPS) were relegated to the 2024 Kolmonen.[1][2][3]

## Teams

[edit]

The league consisted of thirty-six teams (twenty-seven returning from the previous season, six promoted from Kolmonen, and three relegated from Ykkönen), split into three equal groups (A, B, and C).[4]

### Team changes

[edit]

Promoted from
2022 Kolmonen | Promoted to
2023 Ykkönen | Relegated from
2022 Ykkönen | Relegated to
2023 Kolmonen

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|
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Atlantis 2
Elo Kuopio
Pallo-Iirot
SexyPöxyt
TiPS
TP-47 | JJK
KäPa
SalPa | PEPO
PIF
PK-35 | KaaPo
KajHa
Komeetat
LaPa
MuSa
PeKa
VJS

### Group A

[edit]

Team  | Town

|

Atlantis 2 | Helsinki
Futura | Porvoo
JIPPO | Joensuu
Kiffen | Helsinki
Klubi 04 | Helsinki
NJS | Nurmijärvi
PEPO | Lappeenranta
PK Keski-Uusimaa | Järvenpää, Kerava and Tuusula
PK-35 | Vantaa
PPJ | Helsinki
Reipas Lahti | Lahti
TiPS | Tikkurila

### Group B

[edit]

Team Name  | Town

|

Atlantis | Helsinki
EPS | Espoonlahti
GrIFK | Kauniainen
HJS | Hämeenlinna
Honka Akatemia | Espoo
Ilves 2 | Tampere
Ilves-Kissat | Tampere
Jazz Pori | Pori
Pallo-Iirot | Rauma
PIF | Pargas
SexyPöxyt | Laaksolahti
Tampere United | Tampere

### Group C

[edit]

Team Name  | Town

|

Elo Kuopio | Kuopio
GBK Kokkola | Kokkola
Hercules | Oulu
JBK | Jakobstad
KuPS Akatemia | Kuopio
Närpes Kraft | Närpes
OLS | Oulu
OTP | Oulu
RoPS | Rovaniemi
TP-47 | Tornio
Vaajakoski | Vaajakoski
VIFK | Vaasa

## League tables

[edit]

### Group A

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation

|
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1  | JIPPO (P) | 22  | 15  | 3  | 4  | 56  | 19  | +37  | 48  | Qualification for the Kakkonen Championship play-offs and promotion to the Ykkösliiga[a]
2  | PK-35 (C, O, P) | 22  | 14  | 6  | 2  | 49  | 21  | +28  | 48
3  | Klubi 04 (O, P) | 22  | 13  | 5  | 4  | 41  | 16  | +25  | 44  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
4  | Reipas Lahti | 22  | 8  | 8  | 6  | 31  | 25  | +6  | 32  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
5  | PK Keski-Uusimaa (O, P) | 22  | 9  | 5  | 8  | 44  | 39  | +5  | 32  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
6  | NJS | 22  | 9  | 3  | 10  | 34  | 30  | +4  | 30  |
7  | PEPO | 22  | 9  | 3  | 10  | 45  | 44  | +1  | 30
8  | Atlantis 2 | 22  | 6  | 9  | 7  | 20  | 32  | −12  | 27
9  | PPJ | 22  | 7  | 5  | 10  | 43  | 41  | +2  | 26
10  | Kiffen | 22  | 7  | 5  | 10  | 21  | 33  | −12  | 26
11  | Futura (R) | 22  | 5  | 4  | 13  | 30  | 58  | −28  | 19  | Relegation to the Kolmonen
12  | TiPS (R) | 22  | 0  | 4  | 18  | 20  | 76  | −56  | 4

Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Fewer away goals conceded; 8) Home goals scored; 9) Fewer home goals conceded; 10) Play-off; 11) Draw.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. ^ Despite losing the Kakkonen Championship play-off final, JIPPO were promoted to the Ykkösliiga after Gnistan were promoted to the Veikkausliiga to replace Honka and KäPa were given a reprieve in the Ykkönen to replace HIFK.

### Group B

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation

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|
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1  | EPS (P) | 22  | 15  | 3  | 4  | 50  | 20  | +30  | 48  | Qualification for Kakkonen Championship play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
2  | Jazz Pori (P) | 22  | 14  | 3  | 5  | 63  | 31  | +32  | 45  | Promotion to the Ykkönen
3  | Ilves-Kissat | 22  | 13  | 4  | 5  | 53  | 43  | +10  | 43  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
4  | Atlantis (O, P) | 22  | 13  | 2  | 7  | 54  | 30  | +24  | 41  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
5  | Tampere United | 22  | 11  | 4  | 7  | 40  | 32  | +8  | 37  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
6  | GrIFK | 22  | 10  | 5  | 7  | 39  | 40  | −1  | 35  |
7  | Honka Akatemia | 22  | 9  | 5  | 8  | 39  | 42  | −3  | 32
8  | Pallo-Iirot | 22  | 10  | 0  | 12  | 37  | 34  | +3  | 30
9  | Ilves 2 | 22  | 6  | 2  | 14  | 28  | 50  | −22  | 20
10  | HJS  | 22  | 5  | 3  | 14  | 28  | 45  | −17  | 18
11  | SexyPöxyt (R) | 22  | 4  | 4  | 14  | 20  | 51  | −31  | 16  | Relegation to the Kolmonen
12  | PIF (R) | 22  | 3  | 3  | 16  | 25  | 58  | −33  | 12

Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Fewer away goals conceded; 8) Home goals scored; 9) Fewer home goals conceded; 10) Play-off; 11) Draw.
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

### Group C

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|

1  | OLS (P) | 22  | 13  | 6  | 3  | 53  | 22  | +31  | 45  | Qualification for the Kakkonen Championship play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
2  | Vaajakoski | 22  | 13  | 6  | 3  | 43  | 17  | +26  | 45  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
3  | RoPS (O, P) | 22  | 12  | 3  | 7  | 42  | 37  | +5  | 39  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
4  | KuPS Akatemia | 22  | 11  | 4  | 7  | 33  | 27  | +6  | 37  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
5  | VIFK (O, P) | 22  | 10  | 4  | 8  | 36  | 31  | +5  | 34  | Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
6  | OTP | 22  | 10  | 3  | 9  | 37  | 33  | +4  | 33  |
7  | GBK Kokkola | 22  | 8  | 7  | 7  | 33  | 41  | −8  | 31
8  | TP-47 | 22  | 8  | 4  | 10  | 35  | 35  | 0  | 28
9  | Närpes Kraft | 22  | 6  | 7  | 9  | 30  | 37  | −7  | 25
10  | Elo Kuopio | 22  | 5  | 4  | 13  | 24  | 39  | −15  | 19
11  | Hercules (R) | 22  | 5  | 4  | 13  | 23  | 48  | −25  | 19  | Relegation to the Kolmonen
12  | JBK (R) | 22  | 2  | 6  | 14  | 26  | 48  | −22  | 12

Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Fewer away goals conceded; 8) Home goals scored; 9) Fewer home goals conceded; 10) Play-off; 11) Draw.
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

## Play-offs

[edit]

### Kakkonen play-offs

[edit]

The second to fifth teams in each group (minus the highest ranked runner-up) competed in play-off matches, with the five winners earning promotion to the 2024 Ykkönen.

#### First leg

[edit]

Reipas Lahti (4th, Group A) v RoPS (3rd, Group C) 14 October 2023 |  Reipas Lahti (4th, Group A) | 2–3|  RoPS (3rd, Group C) |

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11:00 BST |  |  |  |

VIFK (5th, Group C) v Ilves-Kissat (3rd, Group B) 14 October 2023 |  VIFK (5th, Group C) | 0–0|  Ilves-Kissat (3rd, Group B) |

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16:00 BST |  |  |  |

KuPS Akatemia (4th, Group C) v Atlantis (4th, Group B) 15 October 2023 |  KuPS Akatemia (4th, Group C) | 0–3|  Atlantis (4th, Group B) |

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15:00 BST |  |  |  |

PK Keski-Uusimaa (5th, Group A) v Vaajakoski (2nd, Group C) 21 October 2023 |  PK Keski-Uusimaa (5th, Group A) | 4–1|  Vaajakoski (2nd, Group C) |

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11:00 BST |  |  |  |

Tampere United (5th, Group B) v Klubi 04 (3rd, Group A) 21 October 2023 |  Tampere United (5th, Group B) | 2–1|  Klubi 04 (3rd, Group A) |

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14:00 BST |  |  |  |

#### Second leg

[edit]

RoPS (3rd, Group C) v Reipas Lahti (4th, Group A) 21 October 2023 |  RoPS (3rd, Group C) | 1–1
(4–3 agg.)| Reipas Lahti (4th, Group A)|

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12:00 BST |  |  |  |

Ilves-Kissat (3rd, Group B) v VIFK (5th, Group C) 22 October 2023 | Ilves-Kissat (3rd, Group B)| 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(1–1 agg.)
(1–4 p)|  VIFK (5th, Group C) |

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|

12:00 BST |  |  |  |

Atlantis (4th, Group B) v KuPS Akatemia (4th, Group C) 22 October 2023 |  Atlantis (4th, Group B) | 3–1
(6–1 agg.)| KuPS Akatemia (4th, Group C)|

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13:00 BST |  |  |  |

Vaajakoski (2nd, Group C) v PK Keski-Uusimaa (5th, Group A) 28 October 2023 | Vaajakoski (2nd, Group C)| 3–1
(4–5 agg.)|  PK Keski-Uusimaa (5th, Group A) |

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11:00 BST |  |  |  |

Klubi 04 (3rd, Group A) v Tampere United (5th, Group B) 29 October 2023 |  Klubi 04 (3rd, Group A) | 4–0
(5–2 agg.)| Tampere United (5th, Group B)|

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14:00 BST |  |  |  |

### Kakkonen Championship play-offs

[edit]

The three group winners and highest ranked runner-up competed in a play-off, with the winner earning promotion to the 2024 Ykkösliiga and the rest qualifying for the 2024 Ykkönen.

#### Semi-finals

[edit]

JIPPO (1st, Group A) v OLS (1st, Group C) 14 October 2023 |  JIPPO (1st, Group A) | 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)| OLS (1st, Group C)|

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13:00 BST |  |  |  |

PK-35 (2nd, Group A) v EPS (1st, Group B) 15 October 2023 |  PK-35 (2nd, Group A) | 2–1| EPS (1st, Group B)|

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12:00 BST |  |  |  |

#### Final

[edit]

##### First leg

[edit]

PK-35 (2nd, Group A) v JIPPO (1st, Group A) 21 October 2023 |  PK-35 (2nd, Group A) | 0–0|  JIPPO (1st, Group A) |

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13:00 BST |  |  |  |

##### Second leg

[edit]

JIPPO (1st, Group A) v PK-35 (2nd, Group A) 28 October 2023 | JIPPO (1st, Group A)| 2–3 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 agg.)|  PK-35 (2nd, Group A) |

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13:00 BST |  |  |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kakkonen Group A 2023 scores, Football Finland". Flashscore.
2. ^ "Kakkonen Group B 2023 scores, Football Finland". Flashscore.
3. ^ "Kakkonen Group C 2023 scores, Football Finland". Flashscore.
4. ^ "Tulospalvelu". Palloliitto. Retrieved 28 March 2022.

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*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
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*[GF]: Goals for
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