In the opening match of Premium Liiga Matchday 7, Nomme Kalju FC secured their second consecutive league win by defeating Kuressaare FC 2-0. Paide Linnameeskond also claimed three points by scoring a controversial penalty goal to sneak a victory against Harju JK Laagri, winning 2-1.
Nomme Kalju traveled to Kuressaare aiming to continue their success. They had been a challenging opponent for Kuressaare lately, having previously won seven games in a row against them. Kuressaare, on the other hand, was looking for their eighth win in this matchup.
In their last league match, Kuressaare suffered a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat against league leaders Levadia. They were in the lead at 1-0 until the 80th minute before Levadia scored twice to claim the win. Coming into this game, Kuressaare was on a four-game losing streak, prompting manager Sander Post to make two changes to the starting lineup, bringing back Markus Leivategija and Aleksandrer Iljin after a one-game absence.
Meanwhile, Nomme Kalju, fresh from a commanding victory against Harju JK Laagri in their last outing, made three changes to their starting lineup for this match.
At the start of the game, Kuressaare nearly scored the fastest goal of the season just 14 seconds in when Evgeni Demidov, the last game’s goal scorer against Levadia, took a shot from the right side. Kalju’s goalkeeper, Pavlov, was alert, making a great save right at the beginning.
As the match progressed, Kalju gained control and started to look more dangerous. In a goalless first half, Kalju’s best chance came when Nikita Ivanov snuck behind the defenders, receiving a cross to the box, but his header from a cross hit the post.
In the second half, Kuressaare’s goalkeeper, Nomm, showcased his athletic ability by saving a shot, but a few minutes later, he allowed one to slip through. Nikita Ivanov, who had previously hit the post, received a cross pass from Ibrahim Jabir and volleyed it with a first-time shot. Nomm made a spectacular save, but Ivanov followed up quickly to head the rebound into the net, bringing the score to 1-0 for Nomme Kalju.
Shortly after, Kalju scored their second goal. Guilherme Smith found substitute Kristjan Kask in the box, and the former Parnu JK Vaprus player redirected the ball into the goal with a subtle header, giving Kalju a two-goal advantage. This was Kask’s first goal for his new club.
The match ended with Nomme Kalju winning 2-0, marking their eighth consecutive victory over Kuressaare since 2023. Kuressaare suffered their fifth straight defeat and now sits at the bottom of the league table with three points from seven matches.
FC Kuressaare vs FC Nomme Kalju – 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Ivanov 53′, Kask 69′
Yellow Card: Orlov 80′, Marin 87′
KUR: Nomm – Saar, Orren, Pajunurm, Prunn – Domov, Smirnov (Kivi 69′) – Iljin, Leivategija, Demidov – Lipp (Jermatsenko 69′)
KAL: Pavlov – Mashchenko (Baptista 90′), Tambedou, Podholjuzin, Nikolajev – Musolitin (Patrikejevs 68′) – Siht, Kask (Korre 90′) – Ivanov (Marin 77′) – Jabir (Orlov 77′), Smith
In the day’s second match, Paide Linnameeskond managed a controversial 2-1 win over Harju JK Laagri. Paide, on a three-game winning streak before this match, had their first significant chance to score in the 13th minute when Harju’s defender accidentally handled the ball in his own penalty area. After a VAR check, the referee awarded a penalty kick. Twenty-three-year-old Robi Saarma stepped up to take it, but his effort was saved by Latvian goalkeeper Ivans Baturins.
Later in the first half, Saarma redeemed himself, scoring a candidate for goal of the season. At the edge of the box, he received a cross from the left side and volleyed it with a first-time shot into the top left corner, leaving Baturins with no chance to save it, making it 1-0 for Paide.
In the second half, Harju JK Laagri equalized when Kaspar Laur scored his first goal for the club with a header following a corner kick, breaking a 378-minute clean sheet record.
As Paide pressed to maintain their winning streak, their offensive threats became increasingly dangerous. However, Baturins delivered a stellar performance, saving shot after shot to keep the game tied. In the dying minutes, a controversial moment occurred when a defender from Harju hit a visiting player with an elbow in the head inside the penalty area. The referee reviewed the incident via VAR and ultimately awarded a penalty to Paide in the 93rd minute. Harju’s goalkeeper, Baturins, was unable to make the save as Henrik Ojamaa converted the penalty kick, securing the win for Paide.
Following this heartbreaking defeat, Harju remains in seventh place in the league with seven points, while Paide continues to chase league leaders Levadia with 18 points after seven games. Paide’s next match is on Friday against FC Flora Tallinn, while Harju will host Tartu JK Tammeka on the same day.
Harju JK Laagri vs Paide Linnameeskond – 1:2 (0:1)
Goals: Laur 58′ | Saarma 34′, He.Ojamaa 90+7′ (Penalty kick)
Yellow Card: Laur 90+7′ | Baranov 50′, He.Ojamaa 90+1′
HAR: Baturins – Jarve, Kaevats, Laur – Ribeiro – Rudenko (Suppi 88′), Roomussaar (Kartau 80′), Reimaa, Antonov – Eerme, Piht (Kose 88′)
PAI: Jarju – Hi.Ojamaa (Dubackic 72′), Baranov, Delevic, Saliste – Suso, Miller, Holm, He.Ojamaa – Corr (Reinkort 56′), Saarma (Luts 72′)
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FCI Levadia | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 22 |
| 2 | Paide | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 18 |
| 3 | FC Flora | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 17 |
| 4 | Nõmme Kalju | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | Narva Trans | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 6 | Harju JK | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 10 |
| 7 | Pärnu Vaprus | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 8 | FC Kuressaare | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -10 | 6 |
| 9 | Tammeka Tartu | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -11 | 4 |
| 10 | Tallinna Kalev | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -19 | 4 |