In Matchday 4 of the Premium Liiga, Levadia secured a 2-1 victory against Nomme Kalju, scoring two first-half goals. Meanwhile, Paide Linnameeskond dominated bottom-of-the-table JK Tallinna Kalev, winning 5-0.
FCI Levadia had started the season perfectly, winning all three matches. Manager Curro Torres opted to rotate his squad for this match, giving four players—Frank Liivak, Brent Lepistu, Ernest Agyiri, and Ahmad Gero—their first starts of the season. For Kalju, winter signing Modou Tambedou also made his first start.
Last season, Levadia won three out of four encounters against Nomme Kalju, with one match ending in a draw. Kalju’s last league victory against the defending champions came in October 2023.
The game began with both teams creating chances, and both goalkeepers made notable saves. In the 34th minute Liivak in his first start, was fouled in the box resulting in a penalty kick for Levadia. Joao Pedro confidently converted the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his second goal of the season. Just minutes later, Levadia doubled their lead when Estonian international Rasmus Peetson headed in a goal from a corner kick, also marking his second goal of the season.
Nomme Kalju came out with more energy in the second half, but Levadia remained closer to scoring a third goal than Kalju was to finding their first. Kalju’s goalkeeper, Pavlov, managed to safeguard the scoreline. However, in the latter part of the second half, Kalju finally found the net. Guilherme Smith’s initial shot was awkwardly saved by Levadia’s goalkeeper, Vallner, and the ball slipped through his legs. Mihhail Orlov was quick to react and tapped in the loose ball for his first goal of the season, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Despite their efforts, Nomme Kalju could not equalize, allowing Levadia to continue their perfect start to the Premium Liiga campaign.
On the next matchday, Levadia will face Narva, while Nomme Kalju will play in the Railway Derby against FC Flora Tallinn.
FCI Levadia vs Nomme Kalju FC – 2:1 (2:0)
Goals: Joao Pedro 35′ (Penalty kick), Peetson 43′ | Orlov 86′
Yellow Card: Peetson 89′, Joao Pedro 90+1′
LEV: Vallner – Liivak (Tur 66′), Peetson, Alexandre, Lepistu, Schjonning-Larsen – Joao Pedro (Bah 90+3′), Ainsalu, Agyiri (Tambedou 66′), Otoo (Roosnupp 83′) – Gero (Musaba 66′)
NOM: Pavlov – Mashckenko, Podholjuzin, Korre, Nikolajev (Tarassenkov 46′) – Tambedou (Kask 61′) – Siht, Musolitin (Orlov 77′) – Guilherme Smith, Jabir (Patrikejevs 61′), Marin (Ivanov 46′)
In the other match of the day, Paide achieved a convincing 5-0 victory over Tallinna Kalev.
19-year-old Gambian talent Muhammed Suso scored his first two professional goals in the first half, and Estonian international Martin Miller added another goal with a stunning shot from outside the box, giving Paide a comfortable 3-0 lead at halftime.
At the start of the second half, Paide scored again when a free-kick from Robi Saarma was deflected into the net by Tallinna Kalev’s Canadian player, Zachary Sukunda.
In the 73rd minute, Nigerian midfielder Luqman Gilmore scored his first goal since joining Paide, heading the ball home from a corner kick.
Paide has won three of its first four league games, while JK Tallinna Kalev, after four straight defeats, is still searching for its first point this season.
Paide’s next match will be on Saturday when they host Tammeka, while Kalev will also play at home against Kuressaare on the same day.
Paide Linnameeskond vs JK Tallina Kalev – 5:0 (3:0)
Goals: Suso 3′ 31′, Miller 33′, Sukunda 49′ (Own Goal), Gilmore 73′
Yellow Card: Jallow 48′, Usta 77′
PAI: Jarju – Gueye (Hi.Ojamaa 71′), Delevic, Baranov, Saliste – Suso (Corr 62′), Miller, Holm (D.Luts 62′), He.Ojamaa (S.Luts 71′) – Reinkort (Gilmore 62′), Saarma
KAL: Lepp – Ernits, Tsernjakov, Jallow, Shevyakov – Famuditimi (Ilves 74′) – Mihhailov (Tomberg 46′), De Pizzol (Svedovski 46′), Sukunda (Jurisoo 62′), Nigula (Surogin 74′) – Usta
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FCI Levadia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 |
| 2 | Paide | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 3 | FC Flora | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| 4 | Narva Trans | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Pärnu Vaprus | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Harju JK | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 6 |
| 7 | Nõmme Kalju | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 8 | Tammeka Tartu | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 4 |
| 9 | FC Kuressaare | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 3 |
| 10 | Tallinna Kalev | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -12 | 0 |