Saarma show in Gibraltar as Paide snatch a late win against Magpies

In the opening round of UEFA Conference League qualification, Estonia’s third-placed side Paide Linnameeskond twice let a lead slip against Gibraltar Cup winners FC Magpies, but ultimately clinched a vital 3–2 win thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from Robi Saarma—putting themselves in a strong position ahead of the second leg.

There were a few surprises in Paide’s starting lineup. The central defensive partnership consisted of Serbian defender Delevic and Estonian Gerdo Juhkam. Juhkam’s inclusion might have raised eyebrows, as recent performances had seen a solid pairing between Delevic and Nikita Baranov. Another unexpected absence was that of Henrik Ojamaa. Coach Vladimir Vassiljev made no mention of this during the pre-match press conference, but later Estonian outlet Soccernet.ee revealed that Ojamaa had become a father the night before, welcoming the birth of his son.

In the 7th minute, Luts was brought down after a quick one-two with Miller, earning a free-kick just outside the box. Robi Saarma stepped up and delivered a stunning strike over the wall and into the top corner—1–0 for Paide. A beautifully simple, clinical goal.

A few minute later, Gueye nearly doubled the lead for the visitors with a low shot that required a superb save from Funez, following a tidy setup by the energetic Miller.

Magpies threatened from set pieces, but their high, looping deliveries were mostly dealt with by the Paide defense. On the offensive side, Paide had some promising link-up play—Saliste joined the attack well and combined nicely with Saarma—but their final ball was often lacking.

In the 37th minute, Luts gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position, leading to the best save of the match so far from Paide keeper Jarju. However, Magpies capitalized on the resulting corner—Krasniqi’s delivery met by Britto, who headed home to level the score at 1–1.

Paide continued to create chances, with Miller and Saarma involved in multiple dangerous moves, but a lack of precision kept them from retaking the lead—until just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Saarma swung in a corner, Funez got a hand to it, but the ball ended up at the far post where Miller was perfectly placed to fire Paide back into the lead. Halftime score: 2–1 to Paide.

The second half resumed with Paide pressing again. Saarma continued to threaten from corners, but in the 55th minute, disaster struck for the visitors. A mix-up in Paide’s backline saw Delevic fail to clear a long ball, and with keeper Jarju off his line, Del Rio capitalized by lofting it into an empty net. 2–2.

Magpies seized the momentum, putting sustained pressure on Paide’s defense. A series of shots came through, but none were particularly dangerous and were blocked or intercepted by defenders.

As the match entered its final quarter, a water break offered brief respite. Coach Vassiljev had said before the match that a draw would be a minimum goal—but a win was clearly still on the table.

Paide showed signs of revival, especially through Saliste’s crosses and Saarma’s energy down the flank. Yet their execution remained inconsistent, with corners often being cleared easily and promising passes going unmet.

Then, in the 95th minute, came the dramatic turning point. Miller latched onto a long ball and was brought down by Funez, who had rushed out of goal. Penalty for Paide.

Amid swirling winds, Saarma lined up for the decisive spot kick. The ball initially rolled off the spot due to the gusts, adding to the tension. He regained composure, made a clever pause during his run-up, and slotted the ball calmly down the middle as Funez dived away—3–2 to Paide!

The match was whistled dead after an extensive stoppage time. Paide had overcome a tough second half and clinched a dramatic, morale-boosting victory thanks to Saarma’s coolness under pressure.

The second leg is set to take place next Thursday in Pärnu, Estonia, where Paide will look to build on their first-leg advantage and secure a spot in the next qualifying round.

Magpies FC vs Paide Linnameeskond – 2:3 (1:2)
Goals: Britto 38′, Del Rio 54′ | Saarma 8′, 90+8′ (Penalty kick), Miller 43′
MAG: Funez, Britto, Ronco, Villar, Busto, Stevens (Clinton 64′), Perera, Krasniqi, Del Rio (Parke 75′), Borge (Mendez 90+3′), Campana (Fernandez 64′)
PAI: Jarju, Lilander (Cham 88′), Delevic, Juhkam, Saliste, Gilmore (Hoim 75′), Miller, Gueye, D.Luts (S.Luts 88′), Reinkort (Corr 64′), Saarma