Levadia hold on to a win against United in a high-scoring game

Premium Liiga champions FCI Levadia Tallinn survived a late fightback from Nõmme United to secure a dramatic 4-3 away victory in Matchday 35. The visitors overturned an early deficit to establish a two-goal advantage, but United refused to surrender in a seven-goal encounter at Sportland Arena.

With the championship already secured, Levadia entered the penultimate round looking to continue their impressive winning form. Nõmme United, meanwhile, were fighting for survival after climbing out of the relegation play-off zone with a crucial victory over Narva Trans earlier in the week.

Levadia made several changes to their starting lineup, with Oliver Ani replacing Karl Andre Vallner in goal and Robert Kirss leading the attack. The latter had played just 352 minutes in the Premium Liiga this season before the encounter.

Despite facing the champions, United made an excellent start and immediately put the visitors under pressure. Egert Õunapuu created two promising opportunities inside the opening three minutes, but Ani was equal to both efforts.

The hosts’ aggressive approach paid off in the sixth minute when Kevin Mätas opened the scoring. Experienced midfielders Andre Frolov and Zakaria Beglarishvili combined brilliantly to create the opportunity, with Beglarishvili producing a clever backheel to release Mätas into space. The forward made no mistake with his finish, giving United a deserved early advantage.

However, Levadia responded almost immediately, capitalising on a costly defensive mistake in the tenth minute. United player Torres misplaced a backpass under pressure, allowing Maksimilian Skvortsov to intercept the ball and finish into an empty net to restore parity.

The visitors completed their turnaround just two minutes later. This time, Ricky Chanda lost possession in a dangerous area, allowing Geovani to race through on goal. The Brazilian calmly beat goalkeeper Gregor Pürg with an outside-of-the-foot finish to put Levadia ahead 2-1.

After a frantic opening quarter-hour, the tempo gradually settled. United appealed for a penalty in the 26th minute, but the referee allowed play to continue, while Kirss saw an effort blocked at the opposite end shortly afterwards.

Levadia enjoyed longer spells of possession as the half progressed, although United continued to compete and search for opportunities. The champions extended their advantage in first-half stoppage time when Kirss delivered an excellent cross from the right flank towards the far post.

Mark Oliver Roosnupp arrived ahead of the defenders and converted from close range to make it 3-1, giving Levadia a commanding advantage at the interval.

United made two changes at half-time, introducing Koen Oostenbrink and Aleksandr Alteberg in place of Mätas and Chanda. The hosts gradually began to threaten again, with Beglarishvili missing a promising opportunity in the 59th minute.

Their persistence was rewarded shortly afterwards when Õunapuu reduced the deficit to 3-2. Andre Järvelaid delivered an excellent pass into the six-yard box, leaving the United forward with a straightforward finish from close range.

The goal renewed United’s hopes of taking something from the match, although Levadia continued to create opportunities of their own.

The hosts were dealt another setback when Geovani suffered an awkward fall onto his arm and required medical attention. The Brazilian was replaced by Lehtmets. The substitute quickly became involved in the action, forcing Pürg into an excellent save with a powerful close-range effort in the 73rd minute.

However, Lehtmets would not be denied for long. Shortly afterwards, Skvortsov delivered a corner into the penalty area, where Lehtmets was left completely unmarked. The forward directed his header towards the post and into the net, restoring Levadia’s two-goal advantage at 4-2.

United responded once again in the 78th minute, taking advantage of a mistake by Levadia goalkeeper Ani. After the goalkeeper misplaced a pass, the hosts quickly exchanged possession before Beglarishvili unleashed an accurate effort from approximately 18 metres into the corner to make it 4-3.

The closing stages became increasingly tense as United pushed for an equaliser that could prove valuable in their battle against relegation. Meanwhile on the other end Pürg kept his side in contention with another important save from Lehtmets in the 81st minute, while Enock Otoo fired narrowly wide from distance five minutes later.

United continued to press during the five minutes of added time. Mark Marmei sent an effort narrowly wide in the 90th minute, before Beglarishvili came agonisingly close to completing the comeback with a long-range strike that missed the target in stoppage time.

Levadia ultimately held on for a 4-3 victory, leaving United empty-handed despite their spirited performance.

The result means United must wait until the final round to determine their fate in the relegation play-off battle with holding a one point advantage over ninth place Kuressaare who have two games still to play.

Nõmme United vs FCI Levadia Tallinn – 3-4 (1-3)
Goals: Mätas 6′, Õunapuu 57′, Beglarishvili 78′ | Skvortsov 10′, Reis 11′, Roosnupp 45+1′, Lehtmets 73′