Estonian men’s national team played their second game of the international break, emerging victorious from a dramatic game against Moldova, with a final score of 2-3.
Estonia made four changes in the starting lineup compared to the eleven men, who started on Saturday against Israel: substitute goalkeeper Matvei Igonen, who replaced the injured Karl Jakob Hein during the second half, started the game; Kevor Palumets and Mihkel Ainsalu replaced Markus Soomets and Markus Poom in midfield and in attack, Alex Matthias Tamm was replaced by Rauno Sappinen.
The start of the game was delayed a few minutes, thanks to a hole in one of the goal nets, which was fixed by zip-ties and the game was able to be kicked off. In the 2nd minute, Estonia had their first big chance: “Sinisärgid” were on a “3 on 2” counter attack with Mattias Käit, who was wearing the captain’s armband, sprinting down the center of the field with the ball, with options on both sides of him, he made a pass to Vlasyi Sinyavskyi on his left, which ended up being too weak.
On the 5th minute, Moldova striker Nicolaescu recorded a shot, which was blocked by Palumets, which sent Estonia on a counter attack, with Sinyavskyi set to be one-on-one with the Moldova goalkeeper, he was dragged down by Cojocaru, who got a direct red card and was sent for an early shower. The resulting free kick from Ainsalu was low and saved easily by Kozhukhar.
Despite the hosts being down to 10 men, they were the more active side during the first 15 minutes, with the game mainly being played on Estonia’s half. Estonia broke the deadlock on the 19th minute, after Michael Schjønning-Larsen’s effort from distance took a deflection and was saved, but first to the rebound was Rasmus Peetson, who scored his maiden goal for the national team, putting the ball in the net from about 6 meters.
Moldova tried getting back into the game, recording another shot on the 26th minute, which was central and caught by Igonen. Just four minutes later, Estonia could raise their hands in jubilation once again: Rauno Sappinen met Palumets’ corner with a headed effort, which was caught by the Moldovan shot-stopper, who was inside his protected goal with the ball in his grasp. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood, as there were doubts, whether the forward headed the ball, or used his shoulder or bicep.
Moldova, now on the back foot, had to find chances to get back into the game, recording two more shots during the first 45, but without result, and the teams went to the half time break with Estonia up by two.
At the start of the second half, disaster struck for the visitors, as Kevor Palumets was sent off after his second yellow card, which were earned on the 44th and 48th minutes of the game, and the game continued 10 vs 10. Estonia were searching for a third, and almost got it on the 58th minute, when Sappinen found himself one-on-one with the keeper after a counter attack. His chipped effort was, however, saved.
The hosts pulled a goal back on the 67th minute through their striker Nicolaescu: after a throw in to the box and a few deflected shots, the ball ended up on his feet, he shrugged off substitute center-back Saliste, and put it into Igonen’s net. Moldova’s hopes were crushed three minutes later, after Yakovlev passed to Käit from the wing, with the captain scoring a low driven shot from the edge of the box. This was the captain’s 9th goal in the shirt of his country.
However, the hosts got the last words in: after an unnecessary foul from Saliste on the edge of the box on the 90th minute, a free kick was scored by Caimacov. Game on again? Six minutes of added time were added, but faulty touches and miscommunication helped Estonia to “kill” the game, and they did that successfully, recording their first three points to the table of this qualifying campaign.
Moldova – Estonia 2:3 (0:2)
Goals: 67′ Nicolaescu, 90+1′ Caimacov – 19′ Peetson, 30′ Sappinen, 70′ Käit
Bookings: 48′ Baboglo, 51′ Nicolaescu, 64′ Rata – 35′ Peetson, 44′;48′ Palumets, 82′ Käit, 90+3′ Ainsalu
Sendings off: 5′ Cojocaru – 48′ Palumets
Moldova: Kozhukhar; Cojocaru; Craciun; Baboglo; Reabciuk; Motpan (78′ Platica); Rata; Postolachi (78′ Stina); Caimacov; Bodisteanu (85’Boiciuc); Nicolaescu
Estonia: Igonen; Schjønning-Larsen; Kuusk; Paskotši; Peetson (52′ Saliste) ; Ainsalu; Palumets; Sinyavskyi; Käit; Yakovlev (87′ Miller); Sappinen (66′ A.M Tamm)