Kapper brace rescues point for Vaprus against Narva
Pärnu JK Vaprus fought back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 home draw against relegation-threatened Narva Trans, with Sander Kapper scoring twice to deny the visitors a much-needed three points.
The match began at a lively tempo, with Vaprus immediately putting the visitors under pressure. Just two minutes into the contest, Narva goalkeeper Venteo produced an excellent double save, first denying Kapper from distance before reacting quickly to stop a close-range follow-up from Limberg.
However, Trans gradually settled into the match and began creating opportunities of their own. Ivanjushin tested goalkeeper Ott Nõmm in the seventh minute, before the visitors eventually broke the deadlock in the 19th minute through Nikita Baljabkin. Gero delivered a cross from the right towards the far post, where Baljabkin guided the ball into the net with his face to give Narva a 1-0 lead.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Agaptšev delivered an excellent through ball from his own half to release Baljabkin behind the Vaprus defence. The forward kept his composure in a one-on-one situation against Nõmm and finished confidently to complete his brace.
Facing a two-goal deficit, Vaprus responded with determination and reduced the arrears just seven minutes later through an excellent counterattack. Pajo carried the ball forward before finding Viidas, who released Kapper down the right flank. The winger produced a precise finish from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 before half-time.
The hosts emerged from the interval determined to restore parity and began applying pressure. One of their best opportunities arrived in the 52nd minute when Vaprus cleverly worked a free-kick into the path of Mathias Villota, whose powerful effort from outside the penalty area was brilliantly saved by Venteo.
The visiting goalkeeper was called into action again shortly afterwards when Välja struck a direct free-kick from just outside the penalty area, but Venteo was once again equal to the task.
Vaprus’ persistence finally paid off in the 65th minute when Kapper completed his brace to level the scores at 2-2. Limberg delivered a dangerous ball from the left towards the goalmouth, where Berardozzi managed to get a foot to it but could not clear the danger. Kapper’s initial effort was saved by Venteo, but the rebound fell straight back to the winger, who powered the ball into the net.
With the scores level, both teams pushed forward in search of a winner. Kapper almost completed his hat-trick just three minutes after equalising, but he failed to connect cleanly with the ball inside the penalty area and sent his effort wide.
As the match entered its final ten minutes, Limberg came particularly close when he carried the ball into the penalty area and fired narrowly wide of the far post. Vaprus also welcomed back Magnus Villota, who entered the field in the 82nd minute for his first competitive appearance since late April.
Narva appeared the more determined side during the closing stages, desperately searching for a winner that would have provided a major boost to their survival hopes. Substitute Poljakov managed to get his head to the ball in the 86th minute, but Nõmm gathered comfortably.
Despite three minutes of added time, neither team could find a decisive fifth goal, and the contest ended in a 2-2 draw in front of 271 spectators in Pärnu.
