Nõmme Kalju bounced back from their first defeat of the season in devastating style, crushing Nõmme United 7-1 at home in a ruthless Matchday 8 performance.
The hosts needed only moments to take control. Rommi Siht opened the scoring after a sharp attacking move down the flank, finishing from close range to put Kalju ahead. The response from United was immediate and spectacular, as Zakaria Beglarishvili scored directly from a corner to level the game at 1-1.
But parity lasted only seconds. Kalju went straight back up the other end, and Nikita Ivanov restored the lead with a composed finish to make it 2-1. It was a breathless opening spell, and United never really recovered.
Kalju controlled the remainder of the first half and continued to dominate after the break. Early in the second half, Bogdan Vaštšuk scored his first goal for the club, combining neatly before finishing well to stretch the lead to 3-1. Just minutes later, Mattias Männilaan came off the bench and needed only a short time to make his mark, powering home for 4-1.
By then, the game was over as a contest, but Kalju kept attacking. Mihhail Orlov added a fifth with a low finish after another well-worked move, before Tiago Baptista made it six with a fine strike from the edge of the area after exchanging passes with Orlov.
There was still time for a seventh. In the dying moments, Baptista’s delivery from a corner ended up in the net, capping a brutal evening for United and sealing a 7-1 rout.
Kalju’s emphatic win was exactly the response they wanted after losing to Paide and now they go back on top of the league table.
Nõmme Kalju vs Nõmme United – 7-1 (2-1)
Goals: Siht 18′, Ivanov 22′, Vastsuk 60′, Männilaan 65′, Orlov 81′, Baptista 88′ 90+2′ | Beglarashvili 20′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nõmme Kalju |
8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 19 |
| 2 |  FCI Levadia |
8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 18 |
| 3 |  Paide |
8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 17 |
| 4 |  Harju |
8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| 5 |  FC Flora |
8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 12 |
| 6 |  Kuressaare |
8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 15 | -6 | 9 |
| 7 |  Nõmme United |
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 7 |
| 8 |  Tammeka |
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 7 |
| 9 |  Pärnu Vaprus |
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 17 | -10 | 7 |
| 10 |  Narva Trans |
8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 19 | -10 | 6 |
