Estonian Football: Narva Trans Relegated to the First Division

In round 33 of the Estonian football championship's top flight, the Premium League, Narva club Trans lost 5–1 away to Tartu side Tammeka on Friday, 23 October. Because Nõmme United also beat Pärnu's Vaprus 4–2 at home, Trans have secured last place and, on sporting grounds, must go down to the first division.

Trans needed a win in Tartu to keep any hope of staying in the elite. They took the lead in the 20th minute through Ahmad Gero. Sixteen minutes later Mussa Sambe levelled, and early in the second half Pavel Marin made it 2–1 to Tammeka.

Late in the match the Tartu side scored three more, even though they were down to ten men after Herman Pedmanson was sent off. Romet Silov, Sambe (his second of the game) and Pedro Manoel were on target.

If there are no changes to the regulations and no clubs withdraw before next season, Trans will leave the top division for the first time since Estonia regained independence. Tartu's Velko, which won the first division with games to spare, has already earned promotion to the Premium League.

The other match

In Nõmme United's game against Vaprus, the Pärnu side went ahead in the seventh minute through Mattias Limberg, and Egert Õunapuu equalised in the 33rd. In the second half Simon Geiger made it 2–1 to United, but Tristan Paio levelled again. Nõmme finished stronger: Õunapuu scored a second, followed by a goal from Eidin Torres. The result means that even a win would not have saved the Narva club.

With three rounds left, United (34 points) are 14 points ahead of bottom-placed Trans (20). Vaprus are seventh (36), while Tammeka (50), fifth, are fighting for medals.

Round 33 continues on Saturday with Kuressaare v Paide and Levadia v Harju, and concludes on Sunday with Nõmme Kalju v Flora.