2023 Kakkonen
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = Kakkonen
| season = 2023
| winners = 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
| league topscorer =
| matches =
| total goals =
| prevseason = 2022
| nextseason = 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.flashscore.co.uk/football/finland/kakkonen-group-a/#/Youqghb5/table/overall|title=Kakkonen Group A 2023 scores, Football Finland|work=Flashscore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flashscore.co.uk/football/finland/kakkonen-group-b/#/xvx0kAcU/table/overall|title=Kakkonen Group B 2023 scores, Football Finland|work=Flashscore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flashscore.co.uk/football/finland/kakkonen-group-c/#/2L5I7iDb/table/overall|title=Kakkonen Group C 2023 scores, Football Finland|work=Flashscore}}
Teams
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).{{cite web|title=Tulospalvelu|url=https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/category/M2!spljp22/tables|publisher=Palloliitto|access-date=28 March 2022}}
=Team changes=
| class="wikitable" |
| Promoted from 2022 Kolmonen !Promoted to !Relegated from !Relegated to |
|---|
| align=center|Atlantis 2 Elo Kuopio Pallo-Iirot SexyPöxyt TiPS TP-47 |
=Group A=
=Group B=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
!width=200|Team Name !width=130|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=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
!width=200|Team Name !width=130|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
=Group A=
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|source=[https://uk.soccerway.com/national/finland/kakkonen/2023/promotion-play-offs/r74342/ Soccerway]
|team_order=JIP, PK3, KLU, REI, PKK, NJS, PEP, AT2, PPJ, KIF, FUT, TIP
|result1=CPOW |result2=CPOW |result3=PPOW |result4=PPOL |result5=PPOW |result11=REL |result12=REL
|update=complete
|win_AT2=6 |draw_AT2=9 |loss_AT2=7 |gf_AT2=20|ga_AT2=32
|win_FUT=5 |draw_FUT=4 |loss_FUT=13|gf_FUT=30|ga_FUT=58
|win_JIP=15|draw_JIP=3 |loss_JIP=4 |gf_JIP=56|ga_JIP=19
|win_KIF=7 |draw_KIF=5 |loss_KIF=10|gf_KIF=21|ga_KIF=33
|win_KLU=13|draw_KLU=5 |loss_KLU=4 |gf_KLU=41|ga_KLU=16
|win_NJS=9 |draw_NJS=3 |loss_NJS=10|gf_NJS=34|ga_NJS=30
|win_PEP=9 |draw_PEP=3 |loss_PEP=10|gf_PEP=45|ga_PEP=44
|win_PKK=9 |draw_PKK=5 |loss_PKK=8 |gf_PKK=44|ga_PKK=39
|win_PK3=14|draw_PK3=6 |loss_PK3=2 |gf_PK3=49|ga_PK3=21
|win_PPJ=7 |draw_PPJ=5 |loss_PPJ=10|gf_PPJ=43|ga_PPJ=41
|win_REI=8 |draw_REI=8 |loss_REI=6 |gf_REI=31|ga_REI=25
|win_TIP=0 |draw_TIP=4 |loss_TIP=18|gf_TIP=20|ga_TIP=76
|status_FUT=R
|status_JIP=P
|status_KLU=OP
|status_PKK=OP
|status_PK3=COP
|status_TIP=R
|name_AT2=Atlantis 2
|name_FUT=Futura
|name_JIP=JIPPO
|name_KIF=Kiffen
|name_KLU=Klubi 04
|name_NJS=NJS
|name_PEP=PEPO
|name_PKK=PK Keski-Uusimaa
|name_PK3=PK-35
|name_PPJ=PPJ
|name_REI=Reipas Lahti
|name_TIP=TiPS
|class_rules = 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.
|res_col_header=PQR
|col_CPOW=yellow1 |text_CPOW=Qualification for the Kakkonen Championship play-offs and promotion to the Ykkösliiga
|col_PPOW=yellow2 |text_PPOW=Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
|col_PPOL=yellow2 |text_PPOL=Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the Kolmonen
|note_res_CPOW=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=
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|source=[https://uk.soccerway.com/national/finland/kakkonen/2023/group-b/r73214/ Soccerway]
|team_order=EPS, JAZ, ILK, ATL, TAM, GRI, HON, PAL, IL2, HJS, SEX, PIF
|result1=CPOL |result2=PRO |result3=PPOL |result4=PPOW |result5=PPOL |result11=REL |result12=REL
|update=complete
|win_ATL=13|draw_ATL=2 |loss_ATL=7 |gf_ATL=54|ga_ATL=30
|win_EPS=15|draw_EPS=3 |loss_EPS=4 |gf_EPS=50|ga_EPS=20
|win_GRI=10|draw_GRI=5 |loss_GRI=7 |gf_GRI=39|ga_GRI=40
|win_HJS=5 |draw_HJS=3 |loss_HJS=14|gf_HJS=28|ga_HJS=45
|win_HON=9 |draw_HON=5 |loss_HON=8 |gf_HON=39|ga_HON=42
|win_IL2=6 |draw_IL2=2 |loss_IL2=14|gf_IL2=28|ga_IL2=50
|win_ILK=13|draw_ILK=4 |loss_ILK=5 |gf_ILK=53|ga_ILK=43
|win_JAZ=14|draw_JAZ=3 |loss_JAZ=5 |gf_JAZ=63|ga_JAZ=31
|win_PAL=10|draw_PAL=0 |loss_PAL=12|gf_PAL=37|ga_PAL=34
|win_PIF=3 |draw_PIF=3 |loss_PIF=16|gf_PIF=25|ga_PIF=58
|win_SEX=4 |draw_SEX=4 |loss_SEX=14|gf_SEX=20|ga_SEX=51
|win_TAM=11|draw_TAM=4 |loss_TAM=7 |gf_TAM=40|ga_TAM=32
|status_ATL=OP
|status_EPS=P
|status_JAZ=P
|status_PIF=R
|status_SEX=R
|name_ATL=Atlantis
|name_EPS=EPS
|name_GRI=GrIFK
|name_HJS=HJS
|name_HON=Honka Akatemia
|name_IL2=Ilves 2
|name_ILK=Ilves-Kissat
|name_JAZ=Jazz Pori
|name_PAL=Pallo-Iirot
|name_PIF=PIF
|name_SEX=SexyPöxyt
|name_TAM=Tampere United
|class_rules = 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.
|res_col_header=PQR
|col_CPOL=yellow1 |text_CPOL=Qualification for Kakkonen Championship play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
|col_PRO=yellow2 |text_PRO=Promotion to the Ykkönen
|col_PPOW=yellow2 |text_PPOW=Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
|col_PPOL=yellow2 |text_PPOL=Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the Kolmonen
}}
=Group C=
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|source=[https://uk.soccerway.com/national/finland/kakkonen/2023/group-c/r73215/ Soccerway]
|team_order=OLS, VAA, ROP, KPS, VIF, OTP, GBK, TP4, NAR, ELO, HER, JBK
|result1=CPOL |result2=PPOL |result3=PPOW |result4=PPOL |result5=PPOW |result11=REL |result12=REL
|update=complete
|win_ELO=5 |draw_ELO=4 |loss_ELO=13|gf_ELO=24|ga_ELO=39
|win_GBK=8 |draw_GBK=7 |loss_GBK=7 |gf_GBK=33|ga_GBK=41
|win_HER=5 |draw_HER=4 |loss_HER=13|gf_HER=23|ga_HER=48
|win_JBK=2 |draw_JBK=6 |loss_JBK=14|gf_JBK=26|ga_JBK=48
|win_KPS=11|draw_KPS=4 |loss_KPS=7 |gf_KPS=33|ga_KPS=27
|win_NAR=6 |draw_NAR=7 |loss_NAR=9 |gf_NAR=30|ga_NAR=37
|win_OLS=13|draw_OLS=6 |loss_OLS=3 |gf_OLS=53|ga_OLS=22
|win_OTP=10|draw_OTP=3 |loss_OTP=9 |gf_OTP=37|ga_OTP=33
|win_ROP=12|draw_ROP=3 |loss_ROP=7 |gf_ROP=42|ga_ROP=37
|win_TP4=8 |draw_TP4=4 |loss_TP4=10|gf_TP4=35|ga_TP4=35
|win_VAA=13|draw_VAA=6 |loss_VAA=3 |gf_VAA=43|ga_VAA=17
|win_VIF=10|draw_VIF=4 |loss_VIF=8 |gf_VIF=36|ga_VIF=31
|status_HER=R
|status_JBK=R
|status_OLS=P
|status_ROP=OP
|status_VIF=OP
|name_ELO=Elo Kuopio
|name_GBK=GBK Kokkola
|name_HER=Hercules
|name_JBK=JBK
|name_KPS=KuPS Akatemia
|name_NAR=Närpes Kraft
|name_OLS=OLS
|name_OTP=OTP
|name_ROP=RoPS
|name_TP4=TP-47
|name_VAA=Vaajakoski
|name_VIF=VIFK
|class_rules = 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.
|res_col_header=PQR
|col_CPOL=yellow1 |text_CPOL=Qualification for the Kakkonen Championship play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
|col_PPOW=yellow2 |text_PPOW=Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs and promotion to the Ykkönen
|col_PPOL=yellow2 |text_PPOL=Qualification for the Kakkonen play-offs
|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the Kolmonen
}}
Play-offs
=Kakkonen play-offs=
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 ==
{{football box collapsible
|date = 14 October 2023
|time = 11:00 BST
|team1 = Reipas Lahti (4th, Group A)
|score = 2–3
|report =
|team2 = RoPS (3rd, Group C)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 14 October 2023
|time = 16:00 BST
|team1 = VIFK (5th, Group C)
|score = 0–0
|report =
|team2 = Ilves-Kissat (3rd, Group B)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 15 October 2023
|time = 15:00 BST
|team1 = KuPS Akatemia (4th, Group C)
|score = 0–3
|report =
|team2 = Atlantis (4th, Group B)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 21 October 2023
|time = 11:00 BST
|team1 = PK Keski-Uusimaa (5th, Group A)
|score = 4–1
|report =
|team2 = Vaajakoski (2nd, Group C)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 21 October 2023
|time = 14:00 BST
|team1 = Tampere United (5th, Group B)
|score = 2–1
|report =
|team2 = Klubi 04 (3rd, Group A)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
== Second leg ==
{{football box collapsible
|date = 21 October 2023
|time = 12:00 BST
|team1 = RoPS (3rd, Group C)
|score = 1–1
|aggregatescore = 4–3
|report =
|team2 = Reipas Lahti (4th, Group A)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 22 October 2023
|time = 12:00 BST
|team1 = Ilves-Kissat (3rd, Group B)
|score = 1–1
|aggregatescore = 1–1
|aet = yes
|penaltyscore = 1–4
|report =
|team2 = VIFK (5th, Group C)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 22 October 2023
|time = 13:00 BST
|team1 = Atlantis (4th, Group B)
|score = 3–1
|aggregatescore = 6–1
|report =
|team2 = KuPS Akatemia (4th, Group C)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 28 October 2023
|time = 11:00 BST
|team1 = Vaajakoski (2nd, Group C)
|score = 3–1
|aggregatescore = 4–5
|report =
|team2 = PK Keski-Uusimaa (5th, Group A)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 29 October 2023
|time = 14:00 BST
|team1 = Klubi 04 (3rd, Group A)
|score = 4–0
|aggregatescore = 5–2
|report =
|team2 = Tampere United (5th, Group B)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Kakkonen Championship play-offs=
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==
{{football box collapsible
|date = 14 October 2023
|time = 13:00 BST
|team1 = JIPPO (1st, Group A)
|score = 0–0
|aet = yes
|penaltyscore = 5–3
|report =
|team2 = OLS (1st, Group C)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 15 October 2023
|time = 12:00 BST
|team1 = PK-35 (2nd, Group A)
|score = 2–1
|report =
|team2 = EPS (1st, Group B)
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}