Flora opened the Premium liiga season with a 3-0 victory over Nõmme United, with Rauno Sappinen and Sander Alamaa taking centre-stage.
United started well and were in Flora’s penalty box already inside the first minute following Mathias Palts’ long throw, but their early pressure came to nothing. Flora quickly found their footing and took the lead when Alamaa beat his marker on the left and clipped a pass into the six-yard box for Sappinen, who turned the ball into the net for 1-0.
Flora continued to create chances, with Rauno Alliku heading at goal and Sappinen almost released again by Ilja Antonov, only for United to crowd out the danger. United’s best opening of the first half came after a loose pass from Alamaa allowed Zakaria Beglarishvili to break down the right; he picked out Premium liiga’s only Dutchman – Koen Oostenbrink – whose attempt to find the far corner drifted narrowly wide. Palts’ throws remained a threat and Kevin Mätas was denied by a key intervention from Mihhail Kolobov.
The defending champions doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute, starting the move with a quick release from goalkeeper Kaur Kivila after collecting a corner. Sappinen carried the ball to the edge of the area and delivered a cross that Alamaa headed home to make it 2-0.
Soon after the break, Flora made it 3-0 after a pair of corners with Kolobov the scorer.
United went closest to pulling one back in the 57th minute when Yosuke Morishige headed against the crossbar from a corner, with Henri Järvelaid also getting a touch as the ball dropped loose. Moments later Morishige was punished for dwelling on the ball as Sappinen robbed him, but the striker’s finish was ruled out for handball.
___________________
Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/luup-peale-flora-tegi-platsil-oma-ara-aga-premium-liiga-tervikuna-mitte
