UEFA Conference League

Third qualifying round · First leg

HJK Helsinki badge HJK Helsinki Finland
  • Pukki 71′
Full time

11

First leg
Bolt Arena · Helsinki
Motherwell FC badge Motherwell Scotland
  • Maswanhise 64′ pen
First leg · Full time6 Aug · Bolt ArenaHJK Helsinki 1–1 Motherwell
Second leg13 Aug · Fir Park19:30 · Tie level 1–1

Motherwell vs HJK Helsinki: second-leg preview, team news and what the 1-1 told us

Motherwell host HJK Helsinki at Fir Park on Thursday 13 August with the Conference League tie level at 1-1. Alfred Johansson on Joe Hodge and the injury list, the officials, HJK form and shape, and ten lessons from the first leg.

Declan Dundas 23 min read
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Motherwell vs HJK Helsinki: second-leg preview, team news and what the 1-1 told us
HJK Helsinki 1-1 Motherwell — Bolt Arena, Helsinki, 6 August 2026

Motherwell drew 1-1 with HJK Helsinki at the Bolt Arena in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie, and go back to Fir Park with everything still to play for. Tawanda Maswanhise scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot just after the hour, before substitute Teemu Pukki levelled with his first touch. The second leg is at Fir Park on Thursday 13 August, with a play-off round meeting against Freiburg waiting for whoever comes through.

Match Timeline

  • Goal
  • Substitution
  • Yellow card
HJK Helsinki
55′55' Yellow card — Miska Ylitolva58′58' Yellow card — Liam Möller66′66' Substitution — Kaius Simojoki on, Miska Ylitolva off70′70' Substitution — Lucas Lingman on, Pyry Mentu off; 70' Substitution — Teemu Pukki on, Mads Borchers off71′71' Goal — Teemu Pukki (assist: Kaius Simojoki)79′79' Substitution — L. Lappalainen on, Santeri Haarala off80′80' Substitution — Alfie Cicale on, Toivo Mero off
Motherwell
25′25' Yellow card — Alex Lowry52′52' Yellow card — Oscar Priestman64′64' Goal — Tawanda Maswanhise65′65' Substitution — Olly Whyte on, Lukas Fadinger off66′66' Substitution — Mikey Booth on, Willy Vogt off73′73' Substitution — Jamie Knight-Lebel on, Alex Lowry off80′80' Substitution — Johnny Koutroumbis on, Emmanuel Longelo off; 80' Substitution — Luca Ross on, Regan Charles-Cook off81′81' Yellow card — Jake Girdwood-Reich
25′
Alex LowryYellow card
52′
Oscar PriestmanYellow card
Miska YlitolvaYellow card
55′
Liam MöllerYellow card
58′
64′
Tawanda Maswanhise
65′
Olly WhyteLukas Fadinger
66′
Mikey BoothWilly Vogt
Kaius SimojokiMiska Ylitolva
66′
Lucas LingmanPyry Mentu
70′
Teemu PukkiMads Borchers
70′
Teemu PukkiAssist: Kaius Simojoki
71′
73′
Jamie Knight-LebelAlex Lowry
L. LappalainenSanteri Haarala
79′
Alfie CicaleToivo Mero
80′
80′
Johnny KoutroumbisEmmanuel Longelo
80′
Luca RossRegan Charles-Cook
81′
Jake Girdwood-ReichYellow card

Match report Alfred Johansson’s side went to Finland’s most successful club and produced their most disciplined defensive performance of the season. HJK managed six shots all night — fewer than any opponent Motherwell have faced in 2026/27 — and only four of those tested Alex

Alex Lowry Alex Paulsen Alfred Johansson HJK Helsinki Martin Moormann Match Report Motherwell FC Regan Charles-Cook Tawanda Maswanhise Teemu Pukki UEFA Conference League

From the archive

Declan Dundas

Editor of The Steelmen Dispatch. Lifelong Motherwell supporter writing about the club he loves. Usually found with a laptop and a coffee, somewhere between Fir Park and a deadline.

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