Estonian Football Championship: Levadia and Paide win, Nõmme Kalju lose to Tammeka
On Wednesday, June 17, the 16th round of the Estonian football championship concluded with Levadia defeating Nõmme United away, Paide beating Harju at home, and Nõmme Kalju losing to Tammeka at home.
The 16th round of the Estonian Premium Liiga brought several dramatic matches. League leaders Levadia won 2-1 away against Nõmme United despite playing with ten men for most of the game. Maximilian Skvortsov put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute, but Viktor Iboro received a red card in the 33rd minute, leaving Levadia a man down. Early in the second half, Nõmme United equalized through Zakaria Beglarishvili. However, Levadia snatched victory in a chaotic goalmouth scramble, with Nigerian forward Abraham Nwankwo scoring the winner.
Nõmme Kalju suffered a painful home defeat to Tartu Tammeka, losing 1-2. Enrique Esono put the home side ahead in the 23rd minute, but five minutes later, Alexander Nikolaev scored an own goal to level the score. The match ended dramatically: in the 89th minute, Kalju's Maxim Podkholuzin was sent off, and in stoppage time, Danil Mashchenko received a second yellow card for fouling Pavel Marin, reducing Kalju to nine men. Tammeka were awarded a penalty, but Kalju goalkeeper Henri Perk saved Pedro Manuel's spot-kick. However, in the next attack, the same Brazilian attacker redeemed himself by scoring from open play.
Paide secured a 1-0 home win over Harju, with the only goal coming from an own goal by Harju captain Andres Järve. Two 16th-round matches were played on Tuesday: Flora defeated Vaprus 2-1 away, and Kuressaare drew 0-0 at home against Trans.
After 16 rounds, the standings are: 1. Levadia (42 points), 2. Flora (30), 3. Kalju (29), 4. Paide (25), 5. Tammeka (20), 6. Vaprus (20), 7. Harju (19), 8. Kuressaare (17), 9. Nõmme United (16), 10. Trans (10). Flora and Tammeka have a game in hand.
