In the second round of the Premium League, defending champions and heavy favorites, FCI Levadia, narrowly avoided losing points against Tartu Tammeka. An 89th-minute goal that was initially disallowed but later reinstated secured a 3-2 victory for Levadia.
Both teams won their opening matches of the season, with Tammeka defeating Tallinna Kalev and Levadia comfortably beating newcomers Harju JK Laagri 5-0.
Last season, Levadia triumphed over Tammeka in all four league encounters. Tammeka’s last victory against the defending champions was in 2018 when they won 1-0.
Levadia started the game better, opening the scoring in the 17th minute. Joao Pedro’s delivery from the corner kick found Rasmus Peetson’s header, making it 1-0.
In the 25th minute, Olawale Tanimowo delivered a cross to the back post after a free kick, allowing Adebayo to score this time legitimately, leveling the match at 1-1. Just before halftime, Levadia regained the lead. Enock Otoo crossed the ball, which was cleared by a Tartu player, and it bounced right to Tanel Tammik. The defender sent a precise shot past his former team, making the score 2-1.
In the 59th minute, Richie Musaba appeared to score from an Otoo corner, but VAR detected a handball by Bubacarr Tambedou, disallowing the goal. In the 72nd minute, Ganiu Ogungebe delivered a long free kick from his own half. Tristan Koskor left the ball to Adebayo, who took a shot that was saved by Karl Andre Vallner, but the rebound got straight to Tanimowo, who found the net, making it 2-2.
Levadia turned to their bench for a solution, and in the 89th minute, Mihkel Ainsalu’s through pass set up Mousta Bah, whose precise assist allowed Ahmad Gerol to score into an empty net, making it 3-2. The assistant referee raised the flag for offside, but VAR confirmed that the goal stood.
Tammeka almost equalized for a third time when Herman Pedmanson had a shot from close range in the eighth minute of stoppage time, but Vallner made an impressive save to secure the win for Levadia.
Levadia’s next game is on Saturday, when they travel to Parnu to play the local Vaprus. Meanwhile, Tammeka will play against Nomme Kalju FC next Sunday.
Tartu JK Tammeka vs FCI Levadia – 2:3 (1:2)
Goals: Adebayo 25′, Tanimowo 72′ | Peetson 18′, Tammik 44′, Gero 89′
Yellow Card: Adebayo 37′, Epton 40′, Ogungbe 55′, Koskor 90+2′ | Otoo 71′, Roosnupp 85′, Bah 90+7′
TAM: Aland – Ounpuu, Ogungbe, Kallas, Miil – Veelma, Epton, Lang (Uggeri 72′), Tanimowo (Muur 90′) – Adebayo (Pedmanson 77′), Koskor
LEV: Vallner – Tur, Peetson, Alexandre (Agyiri 76′), Tammik, Schonning-Larsen, Joao Pedro (Lepistu 90+3′), Ainsalu, Otoo (Gero 76′) – Musaba (Bah 86′) – Tambedou (Roosnupp 76′)
Referee: Kevin Kaivoja
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FCI Levadia | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 28 |
| 2 | FC Flora | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 26 |
| 3 | Nõmme Kalju | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Paide | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 22 |
| 5 | Narva Trans | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 22 |
| 6 | FC Kuressaare | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -8 | 13 |
| 7 | Harju JK | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -11 | 13 |
| 8 | Pärnu Vaprus | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 11 |
| 9 | Tammeka Tartu | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -19 | 7 |
| 10 | Tallinna Kalev | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -27 | 7 |
