Jaro 1-0 PK-35 (Jaro wins 2-1 on aggregate)
It was winner-takes-all in Jakobstad after Jaro and PK-35 drew 1-1 in Helsinki a few days earlier, and there was a nervy moment early on for visiting goalkeeper Alex Ramula, whose attempted clearance was charged down by Ville Vuorinen, but the ball ricocheted well wide.
But from then on, the second-tier more than held their own in an end-to-end first half, with a 25-yard strike from Eino-Iivari Pitkala tipped around the post the most eye-catching chance for either side.
However, the second half was one-way traffic, as Jesper Skau testing Ramula was one of a host of chances for Jaro, before they scored the crucial goal 18 minutes from time - Gergo Kocsis produced a wonderful cross from the right wing, which Jonathan Lawson headed into the net for a very timely first goal for the club.
In added time, the home defence stood firm under a barrage of attacks from PK-35, holding out for the narrow victory to preserve their place in the Veikkausliiga for 2027, as the Helsinki side must settle for another Ykkosliiga season next year.
A draw between HJK and KuPS was a real victory for league leaders Inter Turku, as neither of their title challengers were able to cut the gap at the top to one point, instead they both now sit three points behind the leaders.
Both sides had chances in a goalless first half, and after waiting over 50 minutes for one goal, three arrived in four minutes, as Liam Moller bundled the ball home to give HJK the lead, only for KuPS to quickly turn things around, as Petteri Pennanen's corner sailed over goalkeeper Jasper Samooja and all the way in, then Jaime Moreno tapped home on a second rebound after Samooja had saved from Pennanen and Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba.
HJK threw on Teemu Pukki for his penultimate home match, and that proved to be an inspired substitution, as the veteran had the presence of mind to lay the ball back for Nikolai Alho to strike home to earn the hosts a point, extending their unbeaten league run to eight matches, and staying ahead of the Kuopio side on goal difference.
