FCI Levadia made it two wins from two at the start of the new Premium Liiga season after defeating Harju JK Laagri 3-1 away from home.
Both teams had begun the campaign with victories in the opening round, but this match quickly tilted in Levadia’s favor as the visitors took control of possession and spent much of the afternoon pressing Harju back toward their own goal.
Levadia made the brighter start and were rewarded in the 8th minute. A long pass forward from midfield was helped on, and after a strong piece of work from Maksimilian Skvortsov, the ball was squared across goal for Bubacarr Tambedou, who finished from close range to make it 1-0.
Harju responded well and found an equalizer in the 15th minute. After winning a corner, the hosts caught Levadia out with a low delivery to the near post, where Canadian Abdul Binate got his foot to the ball and directed it into the roof of the net to level the match at 1-1.
For a while, Harju managed to stay competitive, even though Levadia had far more of the ball and looked the more dangerous side. The turning point came in the 33rd minute, when Järve was shown a red card for pulling down Tambedou just outside the penalty area and denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. From that point on, Harju were forced into survival mode.
Levadia dominated possession and territory for the remainder of the first half and almost throughout the second. Harju goalkeeper Vainula kept his side in the game with several strong saves, while the home team defended deeply and tried to rely on counterattacks and set pieces whenever possible.
The pressure finally told in the 74th minute, though with a touch of fortune. Frank Liivak delivered a ball into the penalty area from the right, but instead of finding a teammate, the cross flew over everyone – including the goalkeeper – and dropped into the far side of the net to restore Levadia’s lead.
Just a minute later, Levadia struck again to put the result beyond doubt. Skvortsov received the ball on the edge of the box, created space for himself, and curled an excellent shot into the corner to make it 3-1.
Harju tried to respond despite being a man down and even created a few late moments, but Levadia remained in control and saw out the match comfortably. The visitors finished with overwhelming statistical superiority, dominating possession, attempts, and corners, and their second-half breakthrough had long felt inevitable.
The result means Levadia have taken six points from their opening two matches, while Harju suffered their first defeat of the season after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful effort against one of the league’s strongest sides.
Harju JK Laagri vs FCI Levadia – 1-3 (1-1)
Goals: Binate 15′ | Tambedou 8′, Liivak 74′, Skvortsov 75′
Round 2
Pärnu Vaprus
Tartu
Narva Trans
FCI Levadia
Nõmme Kalju| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FCI Levadia |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 | Nõmme Kalju |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Nõmme United |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | FC Flora |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Paide |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Harju |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 7 | Kuressaare |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 8 | Pärnu Vaprus |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
| 9 | Tartu |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 10 | Narva Trans |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
