In the Premium Liiga Matchday 28 match Harju JK Laagri continued to cause problems for Paide Linnameeskond, beating them 2-1 away from home after Marten Henrik Kelement scored twice, including the decisive goal in the second half.
Paide started aggressively and were inches away from taking the lead inside the opening minutes. Henri Anier unleashed a powerful effort which struck the crossbar, bounced down close to the goal line, hit the bar again and returned into play. VAR checked whether the ball had completely crossed the line, but no goal was awarded.
Instead, it was Harju who struck first in the ninth minute. Hugo Palutaja was played into space behind the Paide defence and found Kelement unmarked in front of goal, with the former Paide player calmly finishing to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Paide responded with sustained pressure. Juan Palacios missed an excellent opportunity after Daniel Cabral sent the ball across goal, while Vainula produced an impressive save from Michael Lilander’s free-kick before Palacios crashed another attempt against the crossbar moments later.
The hosts continued to pile up chances without finding the net. Late in the first half, Modou Sohna was denied by a crucial block from Moussa Seck after a defensive mistake, before Cabral’s deflected shot left Vainula wrong-footed but struck the post. Paide went into half-time behind despite recording 14 shots to Harju’s three, with three of their attempts having hit the woodwork.
Tarmo Kink reacted at the break by introducing Martin Miller for Cabral, while Harju made two changes of their own. Paide finally found the equaliser in the 53rd minute. Sohna’s long pass caught Seck underneath the ball, allowing Anier to control it, round Vainula and roll his finish into the empty net for 1-1.
Harju, however, remained dangerous whenever they managed to break forward. Palutaja again created a major opportunity when he delivered from the right towards Yann Emmanuel Assale, but the striker failed to finish and Meerits recovered to deny him.
The visitors regained the lead in the 70th minute. Kelement worked space for a shot from the edge of the penalty area, Victor Hugo stretched out a leg in an attempt to block it and the deflection sent the ball looping beyond Meerits and into the net. It was Kelement’s second goal of the afternoon and restored Harju’s advantage at 2-1.
Harju almost scored again immediately afterwards when Assale found the net following another Victor Hugo deflection, but the move was ruled out for handball. Paide responded by introducing Edgar Tur and Momodou Jobarteh as they pushed increasingly more players forward.
The hosts created several opportunities during the closing stages. Anier forced Vainula into another save from a difficult angle, Miller saw a powerful effort tipped over the crossbar by the Harju goalkeeper and Jobarteh failed to properly connect with a dangerous cross in front of goal.
Harju still carried a threat on the counter, with Kelement forcing Meerits into a save after breaking into the penalty area during stoppage time. Tensions also rose around the corner flag late on, with players from both sides involved in a confrontation as Paide desperately searched for an equaliser.
It never arrived. Harju held on for a 2-1 victory and once again defeated Paide, despite spending much of the match under pressure.
Paide Linnameeskond vs Harju JK Laagri – 1-2 (0-1)
Goals: Anier 53′ | Kelement 9′ 70′
Next matches:
Paide (h) Parnu Vaprus – September 16
Harju Laagri (h) Kuressaare – September 18
# Team P
W D L
GF GA GD Pts
1
FCI Levadia27
21
5
1
74
20
54
68
2
FC Flora28
17
1
10
56
37
19
52
3
Nõmme Kalju28
14
5
9
49
26
23
47
4
Paide27
13
6
8
43
35
8
45
5
Tammeka27
14
2
11
36
38
-2
44
6
Pärnu Vaprus27
10
4
13
37
52
-15
34
7
Harju28
11
1
16
40
47
-7
34
8
Nõmme United28
9
1
18
46
65
-19
28
9
Kuressaare28
8
4
16
31
49
-18
28
10
Narva Trans28
5
3
20
21
64
-43
18
