Nõmme Kalju climbed to second place in the Premium Liiga after securing a comfortable 2-0 away victory over Narva Trans, who played more than half the match with ten men following Doke’s first-half dismissal. Goals from Mihhail Orlov and Rommi Siht sealed all three points for the visitors.
Narva Trans entered the match looking to extend a two-game winning streak that had reignited their survival hopes, while Kalju arrived unbeaten in their previous five league matches, including last weekend’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Tammeka.
The hosts made two notable changes, handing 19-year-old academy graduate Valeri Shantenkov just his fourth Premium Liiga appearance and keeping Mark Zahharov in goal for a second consecutive match.
Despite Trans making the brighter start and striking the post from a Berardozzi corner in only the second minute, it was Kalju who took the lead after eight minutes. Bogdan Vaštšuk battled to keep the ball alive near the byline before finding Sõtšugov, whose initial effort was saved by Zahharov. The rebound fell kindly for Mihhail Orlov, who reacted quickest to slot home from close range.
The goal settled the visitors, although clear-cut chances were limited for much of the remainder of the first half. Orlov threatened again soon after with an attempted lob that Zahharov comfortably dealt with, while Trans struggled to turn promising wide positions into meaningful opportunities.
The match swung decisively in the 37th minute when Trans striker Doke received his second yellow card in the space of seven minutes after another late challenge on Sõtšugov. The forward initially reacted angrily to the decision before leaving the field, reducing the hosts to ten men for the remainder of the contest.
Kalju nearly doubled their advantage before half-time, but Borolinstšikov’s effort after Sõtšugov’s cross was brilliantly cleared off the line by Kondrattsev, ensuring the visitors took only a one-goal lead into the break.
With a numerical advantage, Kalju controlled possession throughout the second half but initially struggled to create major chances. Rommi Siht fired over from distance, while Vaštšuk saw a shot blocked before Orlov also failed to hit the target from the rebound.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 66th minute with one of the goals of the season. Substitute Baptista headed a cross back into the danger area, where Rommi Siht produced an outstanding acrobatic bicycle kick to send the ball beyond Zahharov and double Kalju’s lead.
The visitors comfortably managed the remainder of the match, although Trans nearly found a way back when substitute Agaptšev won possession inside the penalty area and fired narrowly wide of the far post with ten minutes remaining.
The visitors comfortably saw out the closing stages to record a deserved 2-0 victory.
The result moves Nõmme Kalju into second place in the Premium Liiga table with their 12th league win of the season, overtaking Flora by two points, although the reigning champions have played two fewer matches. Trans remain bottom of the table despite their recent improvement in form.
JK Narva Trans vs Nõmme Kalju – 0-2 (0-1)
Goals: Orlov 8′, Siht 66′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FCI Levadia |
20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 50 | 17 | 33 | 47 |
| 2 |  Nõmme Kalju |
22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 17 | 23 | 41 |
| 3 |  FC Flora |
20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 40 | 21 | 19 | 39 |
| 4 |  Paide |
21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 28 | 5 | 35 |
| 5 |  Pärnu Vaprus |
21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 39 | -10 | 27 |
| 6 |  Tammeka |
19 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 31 | -9 | 26 |
| 7 |  Harju |
22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 32 | 38 | -6 | 25 |
| 8 |  Nõmme United |
21 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 40 | 48 | -8 | 25 |
| 9 |  Kuressaare |
22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 36 | -14 | 21 |
| 10 |  Narva Trans |
22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 50 | -33 | 16 |
