Estonia’s most prestigious domestic cup competition is down to its final two contenders. After a pair of semifinals that told two very different stories, Nõmme Kalju and Tallinn FCI Levadia have booked their tickets to the 2024 Evald Tipner Cup Final, set for May 24 at A. Le Coq Arena.
Nõmme Kalju were in devastating form in the first semifinal, dismantling JK Tallinna Kalev 5–0 in a clinical display at Kadriorg Stadium.
The match began disastrously for Kalev when Lamin Jallow accidentally put the ball into his own net just three minutes in. Kalju doubled their lead in the 14th minute through Ibrahim Jabir, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to make it 2–0 before the quarter-hour mark.
After halftime, Kalju shifted gears. Brazilian striker Guilherme Smith extended the lead to 3–0 with a sharp finish, and the goals didn’t stop there. Daniil Tarassenkov got on the scoresheet with a well-taken strike to make it 4–0, before Guilherme Smith returned to add a second goal to his name — capping off the performance at 5–0.
Kalev’s night went from bad to worse in the closing minutes, when Vadim Mihhailov received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving his side to finish the match a man down.
While Kalju dazzled, FCI Levadia had to work harder for their place in the final, edging Narva Trans 1–0 in a tightly contested affair at A. Le Coq Arena.
Narva nearly took the lead early after being awarded a penalty in the 10th minute, but Premium Liiga top-goalscorer Pierre Kabore blazed his effort over the crossbar — a costly miss after Rasmus Peetson had committed the foul.
The breakthrough came just before halftime. In the 44th minute, Bubacarr Tambedou showcased his individual brilliance, weaving through multiple defenders and rifling the ball into the net to give Levadia a crucial 1–0 lead.
Narva pressed in the second half, but Levadia’s defensive organization saw them through to a narrow but deserved victory.
With both Kalju and Levadia already qualified for European competition through their Premium Liiga standings, the final won’t determine a European spot. That fourth berth will instead go to Tallinna FC Flora, last season’s fourth-place league finisher.
Still, the Evald Tipner Cup remains one of Estonia’s most coveted trophies — and pride, momentum, and silverware are very much on the line. Levadia will look to win their 12th Estonian Cup title, while Kalju for their second.
The 2024 Evald Tipner Cup Final kicks off on May 24 at 19:00 at A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn.