In the Premium Liiga Matchday 27 Pärnu Vaprus survived a remarkable late comeback from Harju JK Laagri to secure a crucial 3-2 victory after appearing to have the match comfortably under control with a three-goal lead.
Harju almost made the perfect start inside the opening minute when Assale raced behind the defence and struck the post. Vaprus gradually settled and began creating opportunities of their own, with Sten Viidas particularly dangerous down the left flank.
The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute and came courtesy of a major Harju mistake. Moussa Seck attempted to dribble his way out from inside his own penalty area but lost possession to Rasmus Orm only a couple of metres away. Orm accepted the gift, worked himself into shooting space and fired Vaprus ahead.
The hosts suffered an immediate setback when Viidas, who had hurt himself moments earlier, was forced off, but it did little to disrupt their momentum. Vaprus doubled the lead in the 42nd minute after Harju cleared a corner only as far as Joonas Sild outside the area. The defender brought the ball under control before drilling a left-footed shot into the net.
Vaprus went into half-time 2-0 ahead and extended their advantage six minutes after the restart. Vallik sent the ball across the face of goal, where Seck attempted to intervene but instead turned it into his own net and Vaprus suddenly led 3-0.
The scoreline did not fully reflect the chances at the other end. Harju continued to threaten, with Binate heading against the crossbar from a corner and later failing to connect properly with another opportunity from close range. Rudenko also created danger from wide areas as the visitors increasingly pushed Vaprus backwards.
Their pressure finally paid off in the 78th minute. Rudenko delivered a high cross towards the far post, where substitute Stevin Kerge escaped his marker and guided the ball past Nõmm to score his first ever Premium Liiga goal.
Less than two minutes later it was 3-2. This time Eerme supplied the cross from the right and Kaspar Laur, who had unusually been introduced as a centre-forward despite normally playing in defence, headed home to transform what had looked like a comfortable Vaprus victory into a frantic final ten minutes.
Harju threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. Even goalkeeper Vainula joined the attack for a late corner, while Vaprus repeatedly had to block shots and clear dangerous balls from around their penalty area.
The hosts ultimately survived the siege and held on for a 3-2 victory, avoiding what would have been a remarkable collapse after surrendering much of the control they had established with their three-goal advantage.
Pärnu JK Vaprus vs Harju JK Laagri – 3-2 (2-0)
Goals: Orm 26′, Sild 42′, Seck 51′ (Own goal) | Kerge 78′, Laur 80′
Next matches:
Pärnu Vaprus (a) FCI Levadia – September 12
Harju JK Laagri (a) Paide Linnameeskond – September 13
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FCI Levadia |
26 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 70 | 20 | 50 | 65 |
| 2 |  FC Flora |
27 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 53 | 35 | 18 | 49 |
| 3 |  Paide |
26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 33 | 9 | 45 |
| 4 |  Nõmme Kalju |
27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 47 | 26 | 21 | 44 |
| 5 |  Tammeka |
26 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 37 | -4 | 41 |
| 6 |  Pärnu Vaprus |
26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 34 |
| 7 |  Harju |
27 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 38 | 46 | -8 | 31 |
| 8 |  Nõmme United |
27 | 9 | 1 | 17 | 44 | 62 | -18 | 28 |
| 9 |  Kuressaare |
27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 30 | 46 | -16 | 28 |
| 10 |  Narva Trans |
27 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 21 | 62 | -41 | 18 |
