Nõmme United overturned a first-half deficit on Saturday afternoon, scoring three unanswered goals after the break to defeat Harju JK Laagri 3-1 away from home in Premium Liiga Matchday 17.
Both teams entered the match in poor form, having lost five of their previous six league games, and with temperatures soaring in Estonia, neither side managed to create many clear-cut opportunities during the opening half-hour.
Harju looked the more dangerous side early on, relying heavily on crosses, long throw-ins and set pieces to pressure the visitors. Their persistence paid off in spectacular fashion in the 34th minute when Ukrainian midfielder Daniil Rudenko scored directly from a corner kick. His inswinging delivery sailed over goalkeeper Georg Lagus and nestled inside the far post to give Harju a 1-0 lead.
The hosts nearly carried that advantage comfortably into half-time and generally looked the stronger side throughout the opening period. United struggled to test the Harju goal, failing to register a shot on target before the interval. But rhe match completely changed after the restart.
Nõmme United found their equaliser in the 54th minute through Koen Oostenbrink. Zakaria Beglarishvili created the danger with a clever chipped effort that crashed against the crossbar. The loose ball bounced around the penalty area before Oostenbrink reacted quickest to fire home from close range his first of the season.
Only three minutes later the visitors completed the turnaround. Once again Beglarishvili was at the heart of the move, weaving his way through the Harju defence before finding Benjamine Chisala, who calmly placed his finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
Harju attempted to respond and continued to enjoy spells of possession, but struggled to create the same level of threat they had shown in the opening half. Their best opportunities came from set pieces and long throws, yet United’s defence held firm.
The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Beglarishvili recorded his third direct goal contribution of the afternoon when he threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of substitute Egert Õunapuu. The forward cut inside his defender before finishing into the far corner to seal the victory.
Despite six minutes of added time, Harju never seriously threatened a comeback as United comfortably saw out the closing stages.
The victory lifts Nõmme United from ninth to seventh place in the Premium Liiga standings. They now sit level on 19 points with Harju but move above their rivals thanks to a superior head-to-head record. For Harju, the defeat continues a miserable run of form, with the club now having lost seven of their last eight league matches.
Harju JK Laagri vs Nõmme United 1-3 (1-0)
Goals: Rudenko 34′ | Oostenbrink 54′, Chisala 57′, Õunapuu 82′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FCI Levadia |
17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 45 | 13 | 32 | 43 |
| 2 |  FC Flora |
15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 30 |
| 3 |  Nõmme Kalju |
17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 14 | 15 | 30 |
| 4 |  Paide |
16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 25 |
| 5 |  Tammeka |
15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 20 | -3 | 20 |
| 6 |  Pärnu Vaprus |
16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 31 | -11 | 20 |
| 7 |  Nõmme United |
17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 40 | -7 | 19 |
| 8 |  Harju |
17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 30 | -9 | 19 |
| 9 |  Kuressaare |
16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 26 | -9 | 17 |
| 10 |  Narva Trans |
16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 39 | -28 | 10 |
