The opening fixture of round 31 in the Estonian Premium Liiga ended all square as FC Kuressaare earned a 1-1 draw with Paide Linnameeskond.
Both teams came into the game in good form. In September, Kuressaare and Paide had each collected seven points from four matches. Kuressaare’s most recent outing was a narrow 1-0 win against Tartu Tammeka, while Paide edged Narva Trans 3-2.
Despite their similar momentum, the sides find themselves fighting very different battles in the table. Kuressaare are scrapping to avoid the relegation playoff, sitting just one point above Tammeka, while Paide are chasing bronze medals and sit level on points with Nõmme Kalju.
Recent history favored Paide, who had won five of the last six official meetings between the clubs, with both teams scoring in each of those games. The pattern continued here.
Paide dominated the opening half with 15 attempts on goal, 11 of them on target, but the best chance actually fell to Kuressaare, when Evgeni Demidov forced a superb save from Ebrima Jarju at the near post.
The visitors eventually broke through shortly after halftime. From a corner, Siim Luts swung in a cross for Steve Trawally, whose powerful header was on its way into the top corner. Andero Kivi rose to clear on the line, but the ball deflected off him into the net for the opener.
Kuressaare rarely threatened going forward, but with five minutes left they found their equalizer. Kivi atoned for his own goal, bursting through the Paide defense and rounding Jarju to slot home.
The draw keeps Kuressaare in eighth place on 25 points, just above the drop zone. Paide, meanwhile, move up to third, a point ahead of Nõmme Kalju, who still have a game in hand in this round.
FC Kuressaare vs Paide Linnameeskond – 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: Kivi 85′ | Kivi 53′ (Own Goal)
Premium Liiga Matchday 31:
- 04.10.2025 – FC Kuressaare vs Paide Linnameeskond – 1:1
- 04.10.2025 – JK Tallinna Kalev vs JK Narva Trans – 17:00
- 04.10.2025 – Harju JK Laagri vs FC Flora Tallinn – 19:00
- 05.10.2025 – FCI Levadia vs Tartu JK Tammeka – 14:30
- 05.10.2025 – Nomme Kalju FC vs Parnu JK Vaprus – 16:30
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC Flora | 36 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 53 | 82 |
| 2 | FCI Levadia | 36 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 55 | 79 |
| 3 | Nõmme Kalju | 36 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 74 |
| 4 | Paide | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 70 |
| 5 | Narva Trans | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | -1 | 51 |
| 6 | Pärnu Vaprus | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 49 |
| 7 | Harju JK | 36 | 10 | 6 | 20 | -21 | 36 |
| 8 | Tammeka Tartu | 36 | 9 | 3 | 24 | -36 | 30 |
| 9 | FC Kuressaare | 36 | 8 | 4 | 24 | -35 | 28 |
| 10 | Tallinna Kalev | 36 | 5 | 2 | 29 | -81 | 17 |
