Flora overcomes Tammeka challenge to stay in title hunt

After league leaders FCI Levadia secured a win on Saturday, second-placed FC Flora Tallinn entered their away match in Tartu knowing that anything less than victory against Tammeka would be a costly slip in the title race. In a tightly contested battle, Flora managed to escape with a narrow but crucial 2–1 victory.

Just 12 minutes into the game, Flora nearly took the lead when Rauno Sappinen’s shot struck the post. From the resulting corner, Andreas Vaher found himself unmarked and rose well, but headed wide. The breakthrough came shortly after — and it came courtesy of a Tammeka mistake.

Defender Mattis Karis mishandled the ball near his own goal, stumbling awkwardly. Maksim Kalimullin capitalized, feeding the ball to Markus Poom inside the box, who finished clinically to make it 1–0 for Flora.

Tammeka responded immediately with a chance of their own. From a corner, Ahmed Adebayo Basher’s powerful header was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Flora keeper Evert Grünvald.

Moments later, Flora doubled their lead from another corner. Tammeka’s defense again failed to clear their lines, and after a deflection off Mairo Miil, the ball fell kindly to Andreas Vaher. This time, the young center-back made no mistake from close range — 2–0.

But the home side refused to back down and pulled one back almost instantly. Basher bullied his way past Flora’s defense and smartly cut the ball back from the byline to Giacomo Uggeri, who calmly slotted home — 2–1.

The second half featured chances at both ends. Flora substitute Mark Anders Lepik had the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. Tammeka came close to equalizing through Herman Pedmanson, who just missed connecting with Tanel Lang’s dangerous cross — a matter of inches denied the hosts a dramatic goal.

In the end, Flora held on for a hard-fought 2–1 win, taking all three points from a tricky encounter and keeping the pressure firmly on Levadia at the top of the Premium Liiga table.

Tartu JK Tammeka vs FC Flora Tallinn – 1:2 (1:2)
Goals: Uggeri 26′ | Poom 17′, Vaher 24′
TAM: Aland, Miil, Laabus, Karis, Veelma, Pedmanson (Silov 77′), Epton (Ignatius 77′), Uggeri (Burov 90′), Tanimowo (Muur 90′), Koskor, Adebayo (Lang 61′)
FLO: Grunvald, Lukka (Kukk 78′), Vaher (Kolobov 61′), Tougjas, Tovstik, Teevali, Kaares (Zenjov 78′), Kalimullin (Lepik 61′), Poom, Kuraksin (Alamaa 87′), Sappinen

Premium Liiga Matchday 21:

• 19.07.2025 – FCI Levadia vs Harju JK Laagri – 3:0
• 20.07.2025 – Nomme Kalju FC vs JK Tallinna Kalev – 6:2
• 20.07.2025 – Tartu JK Tammeka vs FC Flora Tallinn – 1:2
• 20.07.2025 – FC Kuressaare vs Parnu JK Vaprus – 2:1
• 20.07.2025 – Paide Linnameeskond vs JK Narva Trans – 2:0