In a Matchday 33 fixture of the Estonian Premium Liiga, Nõmme Kalju FC secured a 2-0 away victory over JK Tallinna Kalev thanks to two first-half goals. The result, combined with Tartu JK Tammeka coming from behind to draw against Harju JK Laagri, means Kalev are now mathematically relegated from the Estonian top flight.
Kalev entered the match in a terrible run of form: nine straight league defeats and a mountain to climb, needing at least three wins from their last four games to have any chance of survival. Those hopes officially ended on this cold evening. Although the loss alone didn’t seal their fate, Tammeka’s comeback elsewhere confirmed that Kalev will drop down to the second tier.
Kalju laid the foundations for their win late in the first half. In the 37th minute, Ukrainian winger Oleksandr Musolitin sent in a precise cross that found 24-year-old striker Mattias Männilaan, who headed home his fourth goal in five games. Just eight minutes later, another cross – this time from Daniil Tarassenkov on the left – was met with a clinical header by Ivans Patrikejevs, the Latvian U-21 international, continuing his strong season with his eighth goal of the campaign.
Kalev hung on in the second half, hoping for a lifeline as Tammeka trailed 0-2 to Harju, but when Tammeka hit back with two quick goals, the writing was on the wall. After three seasons in the top division, Kalev with president Ragnar Klavan are heading back to the second tier. It’s a sharp fall from their historic third-place finish and bronze medals just two years ago, which had earned them a first-ever taste of European football.
JK Tallinna Kalev vs Nõmme Kalju FC – 0:2 (0:2)
Goals: Männilaan 37′, Patrikejevs 45′
Meanwhile in Laagri, the battle for avoiding 9th place took another twist as Tammeka came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw. Harju went ahead through a Kristjan Kriis penalty in the 13th minute, followed by Ramol Silamaa doubling the lead late in the first half. But in the 67th minute, Harju goalkeeper Ivans Baturins fumbled a corner into his own net, and six minutes later 18-year-old Mattis Karis found Nigerian teenager Chilem Ignatius with a perfect through ball, the striker calmly slotting past the keeper to equalize.
Tammeka pushed for a late winner but were denied several times by Baturins, with the match finishing 2-2. Both sides extended their winless streaks – Harju to five matches, Tammeka to seven – but the draw was enough for Tammeka to guarantee at least ninth place, avoiding automatic relegation.
With three matches remaining, Harju still hold a five-point cushion over Tammeka, keeping them in a strong position to avoid the relegation play-offs.
Harju JK Laagri vs Tartu JK Tammeka – 2:2 (2:0)
Goals: Kriis 13′ (Penalty Kick), Sillamaa 32′ | Baturins 67′ (Own goal), Ignatius 73′
Premium Liiga Matchday 33:
- 21.10.2025 – FC Flora Tallinn vs JK Narva Trans – 4:0
- 21.10.2025 – Pärnu JK Vaprus vs FC Kuressaare – 0:1
- 22.10.2025 – JK Tallinna Kalev vs Nomme Kalju FC – 0:2
- 22.10.2025 – Harju JK Laagri vs Tartu JK Tammeka – 2:2
- 22.10.2025 – FCI Levadia Tallinn vs Paide Linnameeskond – 19:00
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC Flora | 36 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 53 | 82 |
| 2 | FCI Levadia | 36 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 55 | 79 |
| 3 | Nõmme Kalju | 36 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 74 |
| 4 | Paide | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 70 |
| 5 | Narva Trans | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | -1 | 51 |
| 6 | Pärnu Vaprus | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 49 |
| 7 | Harju JK | 36 | 10 | 6 | 20 | -21 | 36 |
| 8 | Tammeka Tartu | 36 | 9 | 3 | 24 | -36 | 30 |
| 9 | FC Kuressaare | 36 | 8 | 4 | 24 | -35 | 28 |
| 10 | Tallinna Kalev | 36 | 5 | 2 | 29 | -81 | 17 |
