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Motherwell take on HJK Helsinki in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie on Thursday 13 August at Fir Park. 

Kick off is 7:30pm

How to Follow the Game

You can buy tickets by CLICKING HERE.

FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Food & Drink

Mrs Baillie’s Fanzone is open. Home and away fans can attend from 5pm. So Sally Tribute band will return to on Thursday from 5.30pm.

The Cooper Bar will be open from 5pm for home and away fans. It will also be open for one hour post-match for those looking to avoid the traffic. Food and drink will be available.

All kiosks will be open in the home stands. Card and cash are accepted.

What else is happening?

We encourage supporters to arrive earlier than usual with a large home support expected.

Weather Forecast

Thursday is going to be a mostly dry day with a clear evening. Temperatures are expected to be above 20 degrees at kick off with a high humidity percentage.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

The 90 minutes last week ended in what most would conclude is the fairest way possible, a draw. With Hearts losing two of their two away matches in Europe, Hibernian losing 2-0 in Kosovo last month and Rangers losing 2-1 to Jagiellonia Białystok, a draw on the road in Europe is not something to be sniffed at.

HJK are not a side that lose often in Europe, so coming away with a draw is something to be applauded. The first 45 minutes in Helsinki saw very little action for the HJK keeper, with Alex Paulsen the busier of the two shot-stoppers. But a stern half-time team talk from Alfred Johansson fired his players up for the second period, as they took control of affairs.

Maybe showing a little too much respect in the first half? One thing is for certain: the Steelmen had the hosts up against the ropes for the first 25 minutes of the second half, with Priestman going close, as well as Moormann and Longelo striking the woodwork. The goal was a reward for the endeavour and bravery shown by the Motherwell 11.

The game somewhat swung back into Helsinki’s favour when Fadinger, Charles-Cook, Vogt and Lowry were taken off to manage minutes during the hectic schedule. And when Motherwell were bringing on academy graduates Mikey Booth, Olly Whyte and Luca Ross, all of whom are still in the early stages of their careers, Helsinki brought on former Premier League star Teemu Pukki, who was able to show that extra level of quality to draw his side level.

Barring that one moment, the Motherwell players saw the game out well and can now look forward to the second leg tonight. Boosted by the return of Johnny Koutroumbis, Alfred Johansson’s options are improving.

Opposition Report

The Finnish league is 19 games into its season currently, with just three games left to play. HJK are currently nine points off league leaders KuPS, who are looking likely to win their third consecutive league title.

The league then splits into an upper and lower group. HJK will have 10 matches remaining in the upper group, as the six teams play each other twice.

HJK are still in the hunt for silverware this season. They have advanced to the final of the Finnish Cup, where they’ll take on Inter Turku in September, which would also bring more European football next season.

Joonas Rantanen was appointed manager of HJK at the start of the 2026 season, and although he hasn’t been able to deliver a league title, optimism is high in the Finnish camp as they look towards European and domestic cup success this season.

The Players

Mads Borchers is on loan from German side FC Ingolstadt 04 and has fired home seven goals in the league so far this season. A familiar face to Scottish football fans is former Celtic man Teemu Pukki, who, although 36, is top scorer in all competitions with 11 this season.

The Finnish international is still playing a key role in his second spell at the club after rejoining in 2025.

European Regulars

HJK are no strangers to playing in European competition, having played in European qualifiers or league phase football in the last 17 consecutive seasons.

The Finns qualified for the Conference League group phase in the 2024/25 season. Since 2023, they have lost just one of their 10 home games at the Bolt Arena, which came against Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia.

In those 17 consecutive seasons, they have come up against some Scottish opposition. In 2023, they were drawn in the same Conference League group as Aberdeen, with the Dons drawing both matches, home and away. In 2012, they faced Celtic in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, with the Celts winning at home and away.

Motherwell’s focus turned back towards Premiership action on Sunday afternoon, as the players tried to register a win against last season’s ‘bogey side’ Falkirk at Fir Park. 

A hectic and congested fixture schedule wasn’t used as an excuse by Alfred Johansson at full time following the stalemate with Falkirk; instead, the manager sees the afternoon’s performance as one that is a marker for how this group of players are still building up a connection with each other.

Lukas Fadinger is your Lime July Player of the Month for July.

Fadinger hit the ground running for the start of the new season, scoring a stunning goal against HB in the UEFA Conference League. He made it three goals in consecutive matches by also scoring in the second leg against HB from the penalty spot in Torshavn.

Well done, Lukas.

Motherwell’s wait for a win over Falkirk for the first time since 2009 goes on following a 0-0 stalemate at Fir Park on Sunday afternoon.

With a hectic schedule continuing for Alfred Johansson, it was inevitable changes would be made for the match against Falkirk. Both Regan Charles-Cook and Alex Lowry were withdrawn against HJK Helsinki on Thursday night with cramp, and as a result, both were named amongst the substitutes. Ibrahim Said was available and fresh, having not travelled from Finland due to visa issues, and Mikey Booth was handed his first Premiership start.

Jamie Knight-Lebel also started for the first time since joining the club on loan from Bristol City, as Jake Girdwood-Reich dropped to the bench with Johansson opting to rotate in the defensive third.

The Steelmen came into the match seeking revenge on their opponents.  Falkirk were just one of two Premiership sides last season Motherwell failed to register a win against. Four games against Falkirk and just one point gained, the Bairns got the upper hand on three occasions, twice at Fir Park.

Incredibly, Motherwell went 12 games without defeat on home soil last campaign. A 2-1 defeat against Falkirk in October was followed up by a stunning new club-record clean sheet run and an unbeaten run that stretched into April in ML1. Then Falkirk visited for a second time, with Barney Stewart, Calvin Miller and Ben Broggio getting on the scoresheet to sink the Steelmen to a 3-2 defeat on their own patch in April.

With that in the forefront of Johansson’s and the players’ minds, everyone of an MFC persuasion was looking to rectify that missing piece at the first time of asking in the 2026/27 season. It took 11 minutes for the first chance of the afternoon to arrive, and it was Thursday night’s goalscorer Tawanda Maswanhise who had the opportunity. Lukas Fadinger managed to steal possession, and the ball was slid into the forward. Said was overlapping, but Maswanhise had a go from outside the box, but the shot went wide of the Falkirk net.

Just minutes later, Falkirk had their first chance. Ethan Ross cut inside from the left-hand side and went for a strike on his right foot, but Alex Paulsen was behind the effort all the way.

Motherwell then went on to have some longer spells of possession, and Said showed his moment of magic to turn away from a marker in the middle of the pitch and slide the ball onto Longelo’s path. The full-back charged up the wing and crossed to Maswanhise, who was tussling with Henderson. Maswanhise managed to get a touch on the ball as it went wide for a corner. There were claims for a penalty kick, but VAR opted not to intervene.

A minute later, the ball fell to Said in the penalty area; with defenders all around him, he swivelled and smashed the ball off the crossbar. A huge chance for the Steelmen.

There were limited chances between then and half-time. Oscar Priestman threaded a lovely ball in behind to Fadinger; he got to the ball before Scott Bain and tried to lift it over the on-rushing goalkeeper, but Bain managed to block the effort.

Alex Lowry was introduced for Mikey Booth at the half time interval, as both sides looked for more attacking action in the second period, but Falkirk looked brighter than their first-half display.

The first Motherwell chance in the second-half arrived at the hour mark when Longelo was released high up the left-hand side. The full-back once again looked for Maswanhise in the middle; he smashed a cross towards the forward, but Maswanhise fired well over.

Two minutes later, a long clearance following a Falkirk cross was trapped by Maswanhise, who carried it forward up the left wing. He laid the ball to Lowry on the edge of the box, but the Wycombe loanee couldn’t keep his strike down.

Motherwell’s best chance of the second half fell to substitute Johnny Koutroumbis with 12 minutes to go. Charles-Cook started a quick breakaway and fed the ball to Lowry. The midfielder dinked the ball across to the other side into Koutroumbis’ feet; the full-back settled himself and opted for power inside the box, but the effort went sailing over the bar.

The Steelmen saw out the remainder of the game with focus quickly turning to another European night at Fir Park this Thursday.

Motherwell Team: Paulsen, Sparrow, Knight-Lebel, Moormann, Longelo, Priestman, Fadinger, Said, Booth, Maswanhise, Vogt.

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, McConnell, Koutroumbis, Girdwood-Reich, Wilson, Ross, Whyte, Lowry, Charles-Cook.

The manager gives his views on a goalless draw with Falkirk at Fir Park.

The fourth matchday of the 2026/27 domestic campaign is upon us, and the women of steel travel to face Kilmarnock, as they seek to secure qualification to the next round of the Sky Sports Cup at Winton Park in Ardrossan. 

Ticket Information 

• Free entry to Winton Park. Donations are welcome. 

Matchday information 

• Sunday 9th August 2026, kick-off 1PM. 
• Winton Park, Anderson Terrace/Winton Street, Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, KA22 8JG.

Follow our live matchday coverage on the Motherwell Women X (formerly Twitter) account.

It was more UEFA Conference League action for Motherwell, who travelled to HJK Helsinki with a depleted squad due to injuries. But despite the low numbers, the MFC squad went into the first leg with 600 sold-out away-end fans behind them.

The first half saw HJK have the majority of the chances, but having grown into the game, Motherwell came out all guns blazing in the second-half, striking the woodwork twice. Eventually, a penalty would be awarded, which Tawanda Maswanhise dispatched, sending the away end into rapture.

Teemu Pukki equalised for the hosts, who now have to travel to Scotland in the second leg in what could be a very special night at Fir Park.

Motherwell play their first William Hill Premiership home match on Sunday 9 August against Falkirk.

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

You can by tickets online by CLICKING HERE.

• Young Adults tickets are ages 13-17.
•  Concessions are classed as, Over 65, Full Time Students
• Child is 12 and Under

On Match days, the Ticket Office is open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

What else is happening?

The Cooper Bar and Mrs Baillies Fanzone will be open from 12pm, and one hour post-match.

Weather Forecast

There will be rain most of Sunday morning into early afternoon, but there will be a dry spell around kick off time in Motherwell. Temperatures will be around the 16 degree mark, with sunny intervals into the evening.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell got the perfect start to their Premiership campaign last Sunday at Easter Road, picking up a 2-1 win against Hibernian. Lukas Fadinger and Ibrahim Said got on the scoresheet, which was followed by an impressive 1-1 draw with HJK Helsinki in the Finnish capital.

Motherwell fans will all be aware of the Falkirk duck that was apparent during the 2025/26 season. One thing that eluded the 25/26 team was a victory against John McGlynn’s Falkirk side. Falkirk were just one of two Premiership sides last season Motherwell failed to register a win against. Four games against Falkirk and just one point gained, the Bairns got the upper hand on three occasions, twice at Fir Park.

Incredibly, Motherwell went 12 games without defeat on home soil. A 2-1 defeat against Falkirk in October was followed up by a stunning new club record clean sheet run and an unbeaten run that stretched into April in ML1. Then Falkirk visited for a second time, with Barney Stewart, Calvin Miller and Ben Broggio getting on the scoresheet to sink the Steelmen to a 3-2 defeat on their own patch.

Opposition Report

The impressive Falkirk side of 25/26 has been dismantled over the summer with Barney Stewart, Calvin Miller, Dylan Tait, Filip Lissah, Brian Graham, Henry Cartwright, Kyrell Wilson and Ben Broggio all departing at the end of the season. But McGlynn is no stranger to a rebuild and has begun to lay the foundations for the season ahead, bringing in the Scottish Premiership in the form of Craig Sibbald, Scott Tanser and Ryan Strain. Throw in some new faces from England and their squad is beginning to take shape, with four weeks of the transfer window still remaining.

An opening day defeat to Craig McLeish’s St Mirren side would have been disappointing but having a man of McGlynn’s experience at the wheel, a man who has guided the club to a Premiership campaign for the first time in 15 years last term, which saw them reach the top six for the first time since the split was introduced in 1997, ensures the Falkirk support won’t be going anywhere near the panic button.

In that opening day match, things could have looked very different in the second-half. Killian Phillips’ opener was cancelled out by substitute Ben Parkinson, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a handball in the build-up. Elimination from the Premier Sports Cup Group-Stage after a defeat to Ayr United and a draw with Alloa inside 90 minutes means Premiership football is the sole focus in the early stages of the season.

Motherwell produced an impressive performance and result against HJK Helsinki in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie, drawing 1-1 in Helsinki. 

Tawanda Maswanhise netted from the spot in the second half before Teemu Pukki came off the bench to level.

Alfred Johansson was forced into changes from the side that secured an opening day victory at Hibernian. Ibrahim Said was unable to travel to Finland due to visa issues. Tawanda Maswanhise was brought into the starting 11 for the first time this season following his recovery from a broken jaw. Alex Lowry was handed his first start as a Motherwell player, replacing the injured Dylan Williams, who also didn’t make it to Helsinki.

Motherwell were dealt an early warning shot as Toivo Mero found space in behind the Motherwell defence, and although he forced a good save from Paulsen, the flag was raised for offside.

The Steelmen settled into the game well but struggled to find any penetration through the HJK defence. The only real chance of note came when Tawanda Maswanhise went down inside the box. Appeals of a push were waved away, a decision backed by the subsequent VAR check.

But in truth, the first half showed limited action in front of either goal, with both sides trying to hold possession across the pitch.

With 15 minutes left of the first half, HJK began to look more dangerous, creating more chances Alex Paulsen was more than equal to.

Good play down the right from HJK created some space for Santeri Haarala to burst into, and his shot was met by a strong hand from the Motherwell stopper.

Just before half-time, he was called into action again, this time denying Mads Borchers, who had plenty of space and time inside the box.

With the hosts having the better of the chances in the first-half, the 600 Motherwell fans that travelled were hoping for more action in front of the goal. They were behind in the second period as Motherwell kicked towards their travelling fans. And the early signs were hugely optimistic for the Steelmen, who went up a gear.

Oscar Priestman found a half-yard on the edge of the box and opted to have a shot towards goal. The Aussie’s effort went whistling past the post, but despite not finding the bottom corner, the Motherwell end erupted with encouragement.

Just two minutes later, Motherwell went close again. A well-worked short corner routine saw Emmanuel Longelo fizz in a cross from the left-hand side. Martin Moormann got in front of his marker at the front post, but his effort came off the post via a small deflection from a Helsinki defender.

Motherwell had Helsinki on the back foot, and another two minutes later, the woodwork was struck. The ball was fed into Longelo’s path, who wound up a powerful strike from 25 yards that beat the keeper but came crashing off the bar.

The Steelmen continued to probe, and eventually, they were rewarded on 65 minutes. Regan Charles-Cook did well to battle against two Helsinki defenders before being clipped by the defender. The referee wasn’t interested initially, but a VAR check began immediately, which eventually brought the Czech referee to the monitor. Upon inspection, he pointed to the spot with Maswanhise trusted with the spot kick.

The Zimbabwe international showed his composure to send Marković the wrong way and sparked wild celebration in the away end.

As Motherwell have seven games to play in 24 days, rotation was always going to be required. Lukas Fadinger and Willy Vogt made way for academy graduates Mikey Booth and Olly Whyte, with the hosts also opting for change, bringing on the experienced Pukki and Lucas Lingham.

The changes had the desired effect for HJK and within a minute, the game was level once again. With Lowry down on the ground cramping up, HJK decided to play on in the attacking phase with the former Premier League player Pukki picking up the ball in the penalty box. The Finn was able to show the quality needed to turn inside, past his markers, and dispatched high into the net.

With Motherwell bringing on Jamie Knight-Lebel, Luca Ross and Johnny Koutroumbis in the final stages, the Steelmen showed composure and character to see out the remainder of the game largely drama-free, bringing a hugely important and impressive 1-1 result back to Fir Park ahead of the second leg next week.

Motherwell Team: Paulsen, Sparrow, Girdwood-Reich, Moormann, Longelo, Priestman, Fadinger, Lowry, Vogt, Charles-Cook, Maswanhise.

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, McConnell, Knight-Lebel, Wilson, Koutroumbis, McAllister, Whyte, Ross, Booth.

Alfred Johansson speaks following drawing 1-1 with HJK Helsinki.

The draw means it is all to play for in the second-leg, which takes place at Fir Park next week.