FC Kuressaare took an important step toward securing their place in next year’s Premium Liiga, absorbing Viimsi JK’s early pressure before striking in the second half to claim a 1-0 away victory in the first leg of the promotion/relegation playoff.
Having finished ninth in Estonia’s top tier, Kuressaare must defend their league status against Viimsi, the runners-up in the second division, who are appearing in the playoff for the third straight year, having previously fallen to Tartu Tammeka and Tallinna Kalev. This time, on home turf, they came out determined to change the script.
But it was the visitors thought they had the perfect start in the 14th minute when Sander Sinilaid smashed the ball into the net after a long throw. But VAR intervened, spotting a handball in the buildup and cancelling the goal. From there, Kuressaare spent much of the first half under sustained pressure.
Karl Mägi twice tested the visiting defence from a sharp angle, while James Murage forced a vital block from Sinilaid after being set up by Martin Jälle. Moments later, Murage’s powerful effort from distance demanded a superb save from Karl-Romet Nõmm, who was a constant obstacle for his former club throughout the night.
But the match swung after halftime. Kuressaare emerged with renewed control and finally broke through in the 55th minute. A long throw once again caused chaos, and as the second ball fell to the right side of the box, Jevgeni Demidov connected sweetly with Aston Visse’s pass and drilled the ball inside the far post for -–1. Minutes later, Oscar Pihela nearly doubled the lead from a corner, but his header from close range flew wide.
Viimsi’s best chance to respond came in the 68th minute, when Oscar Ollik found himself momentarily free in the penalty area. But Nõmm, aided by two scrambling defenders, closed down the angle and smothered the effort. At the other end, Kuressaare substitute Sten Prunn had a golden look in the 87th minute but fired straight at the goalkeeper from five meters out.
The home side were handed unexpected hope entering stoppage time. Kuressaare forward Gleb Pevtsov, on the pitch for only around twenty minutes, was shown a straight red card for a deliberate striking motion in a midfield duel with Markus Allast. With the visitors down to ten men, Viimsi threw everything forward.
Long-range attempts forced Nõmm into two more saves, and in the fifth added minute, Roden Vahe managed to get a shot away inside the box following a corner. But once again, the ball found Nõmm – Kuressaare’s current goalkeeper and a former Viimsi standout – who held firm to preserve the clean sheet and the precious one-goal advantage.
The second leg game will be played next Saturday in Kuressaare.
Viimsi JK vs FC Kuressaare – 0:1 (0:0)
Goals: Demidov 55′
