Flora were beaten 1-0 by Saku Sporting in the Estonian Women’s Super Cup final at Sportland Arena on Friday, with Emma Treiberg’s first-half goal settling the season opener.
Treiberg struck on a quick break in the 35th minute as Saku Sporting claimed the Super Cup for the first time. The victory also made Saku only the fourth club to win the trophy, while Flora were denied a 10th Super Cup and a fifth in succession.
Flora started on the front foot at Sportland Arena and almost went ahead in the third minute when Karola Purgats struck from the edge of the box, only for Cärolyn Eismann to turn the ball past the post. After that early pressure, the match settled and clear openings were limited in difficult, windy conditions.
The decisive moment arrived in the 35th minute when Lisete Tammeveski won the ball back near Saku’s penalty area and sent it forward. Kristiina Tullus failed to deal with it and Emma Treiberg ran through on goal before finishing confidently one-on-one to score what turned out to be the winning goal of the game.
Flora pushed again before the break and came closest through Maribel Laidmets, whose first effort was too close to Eismann and second struck the crossbar. Darina Kudjavnina also had a chance but her attempt was directed straight at the goalkeeper.
The pattern persisted after the break. Kudjavnina tested Eismann once again from a tight angle, but Saku largely stood firm as Flora had most of the initiative without creating the clear chances needed to equalise.
Flora head coach Aleksandra Eensoo said her side never found their rhythm. “We could not get our game going at all. The last five minutes of the first half looked okay, but in the end that is not enough,” she said. “Saku are stronger this year than last year. I actually believe we are at least as strong as we were last year.”
Eensoo pointed to inexperience and a lack of control in possession after the match. “It is difficult to say. We have a lot of young players who have not played in matches like this before. There may have been some nerves because a trophy was at stake. In the end Saku did well and we have to keep working,” she acknowledged.
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Sources:
FC Flora naiskond kaotas Superkarika finaalis Saku Sportingule 0:1
https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/luup-peale-saku-tostis-viiendal-katsel-superkarika-kas-flora-troon-koigub
