ESPOO (Interstat) — Honka scored in the 13th minute and added a second after halftime to beat Abo 2-0 on Friday at Tapiolan Urheilupuisto. Mustafa Mahmood put the home side ahead early, and C. Umeh sealed the result in the 54th minute as Honka improved to 3 wins and 0 losses in the competition and across all competitions. Abo fell to 0 wins and 3 losses in the competition and across all competitions. The visitors could not find a goal as the match grew increasingly physical and card-heavy. Honka led at halftime and never surrendered the advantage.

C. Umeh had 81 minutes and one goal for Honka. Mustafa Mahmood had 68 minutes and one goal. Honka’s breakthrough came when Mahmood scored in the 13th minute. Umeh doubled the lead in the 54th minute, giving the home side a cushion it protected through the closing stages. Honka carried a 1-0 lead into halftime after Mahmood’s early goal. Abo did not score, and Honka protected the clean sheet through the closing stages. The home side managed the game after the second goal and kept Abo off the scoreboard.

Discipline became a major theme. Honka’s Sundman J. received a yellow card in the 35th minute. Abo’s Niemi A. was booked in the 44th, and Gronlund F. followed in the 47th. Abo collected further yellow cards in the 59th, 88th and 90th-plus-four minutes. The cards came in a stretch that began late in the first half and continued deep into stoppage time. The match turned more costly for Abo late when Barbata Y. was sent off in the 90th-plus-two minute and Gronlund F. was sent off in the 90th-plus-five minute. The dismissals left Abo with nine players and underlined a frustrating afternoon for the visitors. Abo finished with five yellow cards and two red cards, while Honka had one yellow card.

Honka made a series of changes to see out the result. Abo made a substitution involving Kaari J. in the 38th minute. Honka brought on Hamalainen J. in the 62nd minute. Abo used two changes in the 66th minute involving Laine V. and Kala L. Honka replaced Lehto J. and Mahmood M. in the 68th minute. Honka then made changes involving Pyyskanen R. and Umeh C. in the 81st minute. Abo made two more substitutions in the 83rd minute involving Enqvist E. and Johansson V. The substitutions began before halftime for Abo and continued through the second half for both teams. The late changes did not alter the scoreline.

Honka’s win followed earlier success against Abo this season and a victory over JBK. Abo had lost to Honka and PEPO in its previous matches. The result continued Honka’s perfect start and kept Abo without a win. Honka’s defensive effort produced a shutout, while Abo’s afternoon ended with two red cards and no goals. The home side’s early goal set the tone, and the second-half goal gave Honka enough separation to close out the match.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Honka 1, Abo 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Honka with a 94.3 percent probability to win. Honka had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 3.5.