In the season’s opening match for both teams during Premium Liiga Matchday 1, Paide Linnameeskond achieved a thrilling victory over FC Kuressaare, with Oskar Hoim scoring the game-winning goal in the 94th minute. Meanwhile, in the final match of the Premium Liiga’s opening round, Tartu JK Tammeka secured an away win against JK Tallinna Kalev, finishing 2-1.
Paide entered the match as undisputed favorites, boasting a nine-game win streak against Kuressaare dating back to March 15, 2023.
At the beginning of the game, both teams exchanged great chances; however, as the match progressed, Paide showed their determination to extend their winning streak and kick off the league campaign with a victory. Despite creating several opportunities, they struggled with their finishing. When shots were on target, Kuressaare’s newly signed goalkeeper, Nomm, was there to make the saves.
The second half continued with Paide controlling the game and looking to create more scoring chances. In the 66th minute, a potential turning point occurred when Gambia national team goalkeeper Jarju made an impressive save against a long-range shot from Kuressaare’s Aleksander Iljin, which was heading for the bottom right corner.
In the 72nd minute, Paide finally broke the deadlock. Following a well-executed buildup, Joseph Saliste received the ball on the left side and crossed it to the far post, where 21-year-old Daniel Luts was unmarked and volleyed the ball into the net, giving Paide the lead.
It appeared that Paide would go on to win their tenth consecutive match against Kuressaare, but in the 93rd minute, a long throw-in by a Kuressaare player resulted in a crucial moment. A Paide defender cleared the ball outside the box, where Aleksander Iljin was waiting. He connected with a powerful shot on the run, beating Paide’s goalkeeper and finding the top corner—an impressive goal that could be a contender for Goal of the Year.
Kuressaare and their fans erupted in celebration, but their joy was short-lived. Just moments later, in the next attack, the home team’s defense was caught off guard, allowing Henrik Ojamaa to penetrate the box. His first pass to a crowded area was blocked, but he quickly recovered and set up 19-year-old Oskar Hoim, who had made a run into space. Hoim struck the ball first time from around 14 meters out, sending it past the Kuressaare goalkeeper to regain the lead for Paide just half a minute later.
The referee blew the final whistle, and Paide began the season with a narrow victory, marking their tenth consecutive win against Kuressaare.
Paide’s next league game will be next Sunday when they host Nomme Kalju FC, while Kuressaare will travel to Narva to face JK Narva Trans next Saturday.
FC Kuressaare – Paide Linnameeskond 1:2 (0:0)
Goals: Iljin 90+3′ | D.Luts 72′, Hoim 90+2′
Yellow Card: Jermatsenko 82′ | Dubackic 51′, Miller 90+2′
Kuressaare: Nomm – Demidov, Vahermagi, Sinilaid (Leedo 62′), Pajunurm, Saar – Domov, Leivategija – Jermatsenko (Randvali 83′), Pevtsov (Kivi 65′), Iljin
Paide: Jarju – Lilander, Delevic, Dubackic, Saliste – D.Luts (S.Luts 78′), Miller, Hoim, Ojamaa – Reinkort (Gomis 62′), Saarma
Referee: Grigori Ošomkov
Tammeka takes advantage of goalkeeper mistakes to start the season with a win.
In the final match of the day in the Estonian Premium Liiga, JK Tallinna Kalev suffered a home defeat against Tartu JK Tammeka, losing 1-2.
Tammeka came out strong in the first half, firing ten shots on target. In the 35th minute, they capitalized on a significant mistake by Kalev’s young goalkeeper, Lepp, with Tristan Koskor scoring the opening goal. In the second half, Koskor struck again, doubling the lead after receiving the ball inside the penalty box. With a swift turn, he fired a shot into the bottom left corner of the net, raising further questions about the goalkeeper’s positioning.
In the 68th minute, 18-year-old Tallinna Kalev defender Jevgeni Tsernjakov scored his first-ever Premium Liiga goal, heading the ball into the bottom left corner from a well-taken corner kick, reducing the deficit to 1-2. Kalev had a fantastic opportunity to equalize late in the match, but Hugo Palutaja’s shot from a promising position sailed over the bar.
Tammeka, who defeated Tallinna Kalev in three out of four encounters last season, began the new season with a victory.
FC Tallinna Kalev – Tartu JK Tammeka 1:2 (0:1)
Goals: Tsernjakov 68′ | Koskor 35′, 62′
Yellow Card: Kajari 37′, Mihhailov 86′ | Ogungbe 32′, Epton 45+1′, Ounpuu 90+3′
Kalev: Lepp – Palutaja, Tsernjakov, Kajari, Shevyakov (Svedovski 76′) – Famuditimi (De Pizzol 85′) – Nigula, Surogin (Tomberg 63′), Sukunda (Mihhailov 85′), Jurisoo (Kollo 76′) – Usta
Tammeka: Aland – Ounpuu, Ogungbe, Kallas, Miil – Veelma, Lang (Burov 85′), Epton, Tanimowo (Uggeri 77′) – Adebayo, Koskor
Referee: Rasmus Maalinn
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FCI Levadia | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 19 |
| 2 | Paide | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 3 | FC Flora | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 14 |
| 4 | Narva Trans | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | Nõmme Kalju | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Pärnu Vaprus | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | Harju JK | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -9 | 7 |
| 8 | Tammeka Tartu | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -8 | 4 |
| 9 | Tallinna Kalev | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -10 | 4 |
| 10 | FC Kuressaare | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | -11 | 3 |