In the opening match of the fifth round of the Premium Liiga, reigning champions FC Flora Tallinn finally stopped their three-match losing streak, but only after being pushed all the way in a nervy 2-1 home win over FC Kuressaare.
For a Flora side that had opened the season in disastrous fashion, this was a badly needed result. Yet despite taking three points, the performance did little to suggest the champions are fully back on track.
Flora started the match with urgency and nearly found an early breakthrough from a set piece. A dangerous corner caused chaos in the Kuressaare box, with Sander Alamaa directing the ball onto the crossbar before the rebound was cleared off the line. The warning signs were there immediately, and Kuressaare were struggling to cope with the home side’s early pressure.
That pressure finally paid off in the 15th minute. Flora broke forward quickly, Sergei Zenjov delivered a cross toward the near post, and Rauno Sappinen was there to turn it in from close range for a simple opener.
At that stage, Flora looked capable of taking full control, but Kuressaare gradually settled into the match. The visitors began to find more space in transition and started to test Flora’s defensive structure, which at times still looked vulnerable. They nearly equalised late in the first half when a free-kick situation led to confusion inside the Flora penalty area, ending with Sander Sinilaid smashing an effort against the bar from close range.
Flora went into halftime with the lead, but not with the comfort they would have wanted.
After the break, the home side had a great opportunity to double their lead from another corner, but Sander Tovstik, left completely unmarked, failed to direct his header on target. Flora continued to threaten, though, and in the 63rd minute they finally found the second goal.
Sappinen was again involved, but this time the real damage was done by Alamaa. Picking up the ball on the left, he drove forward and beat the goalkeeper at the near post from a tight angle to make it 2-0.
That should have settled the contest, but Flora once again left the door open. Kuressaare responded in the 67th minute through substitute Andero Kivi, who beat his defender on the left side of the box and produced an excellent finish into the far top corner to pull one back.
From there, the match became increasingly tense. Kuressaare pushed aggressively for an equaliser, while Flora looked uneasy protecting their lead. The visitors delivered a series of dangerous balls into the area, and although Flora still looked threatening on the counter, their control of the match never felt complete.
Sappinen had a late chance to put the game beyond doubt, but Kuressaare goalkeeper Nõmm made another strong save, keeping his side alive until the end. Still, the visitors could not find a second goal, and Flora managed to hold on.
It was a much-needed win for the defending champions and only their second of the season, but it came in a far more difficult and nervous fashion than they would have hoped.
FC Flora Tallinn vs FC Kuressaare – 2-1 (1-0)
Goals: Sappinen 15′, Alamaa 63′ | Kivi 67′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nõmme Kalju |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| 2 |  Harju |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 3 |  FCI Levadia |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 4 |  Paide |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 5 |  Narva Trans |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 |  FC Flora |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 6 |
| 7 |  Tammeka |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 6 |
| 8 |  Nõmme United |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 |  Kuressaare |
5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 3 |
| 10 |  Pärnu Vaprus |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
