Estonian football season started today with an Estonian Super Cup match. The defending Premium Liiga champions FCI Levadia triumphed in a thrilling match against Nõmme Kalju. They blew a two-goal lead but ultimately won 3-2 thanks to a late goal from substitute Bubacarr Tambedou, winning their ninth Estonian Super Cup and their first since 2022.
Both teams were eager to start the season on a high note, with FCI Levadia, the defending Estonian League champions, facing off against Nõmme Kalju, who finished second last season. Levadia’s coach, Curro Torres, introduced two new signings into the starting lineup: former Tammeka defender Tanel Tammik and Ghanaian player Enock Otoo, who joined from Danish side Lyngby. Meanwhile, Kalju’s coach, Nikita Andreev, also started two new players in the lineup—Uku Korre and Kristjan Kask—from Parnu JK Vaprus.
Prior to the match, Levadia’s captain Peetson emphasized the significance of the game in a pre-match press conference, stating, “For me, this is a title. You have to win titles; every title is important. So is this game. I really want to win, and I’m going there with those thoughts.”
From the outset, it was clear that Levadia was intent on securing the win. In the 17th minute, Dutchman Richie Musaba opened the scoring with a brilliant individual effort, striking the ball into the bottom left corner from around 18 meters out. Just three minutes later, Levadia doubled their lead. After a well-coordinated build-up, Joao Pedro found Ainsalu, who then passed to debutant Otoo. Otoo made a strong run down the left before taking a shot from a tight angle. Kalju’s goalkeeper, Pavel Pavlov parried the shot but Nigerian striker Gero quickly pounced on the rebound, slotting it into the net.
As the first half drew to a close, Kalju managed to pull one back. Siht intercepted a pass from Levadia’s goalkeeper, launching a quick counterattack. He found Ivanov, quickly glanced to see where the goalkeeper was, and took a shot from outside the box. The shot went in the bottom left corner, beating the Levadia goalkeeper and instilling hope for Kalju ahead of the second half.
In the 55th minute, Kalju completed their comeback, leveling the score at 2-2. A swift sequence of passes transitioned the ball from their own box into the Levadia penalty area with remarkable efficiency. Starting from goalkeeper Pavlov, Kask sent a long ball to Ivanov, who then connected with Guilherme in the box, directing the ball precisely into the corner of the net.
Both teams had opportunities to take the lead as the intensity of the match heightened. However, it was Levadia who found the crucial goal. Substitute Bubacarr Tambedou, a former star at Paide Linnameeskond, made an immediate impact in his official debut. In the 83rd minute, a cross from the right wing was not cleared properly by Kalju. It landed perfectly for Tambedou, who executed an acrobatic shot that beat Kalju’s goalkeeper, regaining the lead for Levadia.
Ultimately, Levadia held on to their advantage, securing a thrilling 3-2 victory and claiming their ninth Super Cup title against Nõmme Kalju in an exciting opening match of the Estonian season.
There we have it! Aivar Pohlak, no, sorry… FCI Levadia lift the Estonian Super Cup 2025!
— Baltic Football Podcast
This is their 9th Super Cup and first since 2022.@_Paluuu_ https://t.co/7OnlZH6IPY pic.twitter.com/F1gWY59HBF
(@baltfootballpod) February 22, 2025
Tallinn FCI Levadia – Nõmme Kalju FC 2:2 (2:1)
Goals: Musaba 17′, Gero 20′ Tambedou 83′ ; Ivanov 44′, Guilherme Smith 55′
Levadia: Vallner – Schjönning-Larsen, Tammik, Peetson, Tur – Lopes Gomes, Ainsalu – Otoo (Tambedou 61′), Musaba (Zakarlyuka 90+2′), Joao Pedro (Agyiri 84′) – Gero (Roosnupp 61′).
Kalju: Pavlov – Maschchenko, Podholjuzin, Korre – Siht, Kask, Patrikejevs (Musolitin 46′), Guilherme Smith (D’Almeida 78′), Marin (Orlov 87′) – Ivanov, Tarassenkov (Nikolajev 46′)
Referee: Juri Frischer
Attendance: 362