After nearly two months without a victory, Tartu JK Tammeka finally returned to winning ways, defeating JK Tallinna Kalev 5–2 in the Estonian Premium Liiga 34th-round clash.
Kalev took an early lead in the 16th minute through Taavi Jürisoo, but Tammeka came alive after the break. Tristan Koskor struck the equaliser before Kalev quickly replied — only to collapse completely following a red card to Max Weinstein. From there, Tammeka surged ahead, scoring five goals in total, with substitute Ezekiel Tanimowo particularly impressive.
The victory — Tammeka’s first since 31 August — keeps the relegation battle alive. They sit ninth in the table, a position that would mean a play-off against an Esiliiga side, and desperately need further points to secure safety. In contrast, Kalev’s relegation is already confirmed, as the team will return to Esiliiga next season after managing just one point in their last 13 matches.
Head coach Siim Valtna expressed delight at playing again in Tartu’s refurbished Coop Stadium: “It’s great to be back — the new pitch and surroundings are excellent. When it’s full, there’s a fantastic atmosphere, and fans are right next to the action.”
Midfielder Patrick Genro Veelma added: “It’s always good to play at home. We’ll need a strong team performance to keep all three points here, and I hope the fans will make their voices heard.”
Kalev coach Alo Bärengrub acknowledged the team’s relegation but vowed to finish the season professionally: “Even though we know we’ll be in the Esiliiga next year, we’ll play out the season with dignity and aim to win every match.”
Midfielder Vadim Mihhailov shared a similar sentiment: “The season may be over for us, but we still have three matches to play. We want to end the year with good emotions — enjoy football, score goals, and bring three points back to Tallinn.”
