Estonia round-up: Slow start for Flora

The first full round of matches in the new Meistriliiga season saw champions FC Flora drop their first points of the campaign as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by FC TVMK Tallinn.

Quick-fire start
The champions had enjoyed a 3-2 victory against newly-promoted FC Valga in the first game of the campaign last weekend, and took a two-goal lead inside the opening half-hour. First, winger Kert Haavistu lobbed the ball over TVMK goalkeeper Sergei Ussoltsev after 24 minutes and it was 2-0 four minutes later as central defender Andrei Stepanov volleyed a Marko Kristal corner into the net.

Second-half fightback
However, TVMK fought back well after half-time, and immediately won a penalty as Flora goalkeeper Martin Kaalma brought down Anton Paitsev, but then saved Andrei Krõlov’s resulting spot-kick. Undeterred, the away side continued to press forward and pulled a goal back after 58 minutes when Liivo Leetma scored with a volley.

Late equaliser
It was nearly 2-2 three minutes later, but substitute Ingemar Teever’s effort came back off the post. However, the away side rescued a point nine minutes from time thanks to a Maksim Smirnov equaliser.

Narrow victory
Last season’s runners-up FC Levadia Maardu were also made to work hard, before eventually securing a narrow 1-0 win against FC Levadia Tallinn. The only goal of the game came after 19 minutes, when Ukrainian striker Serhiy Chopyk beat the offside trap and scored past goalkeeper Sergei Pisnõi. Levadia Maardu nearly doubled the lead when Andrei Kalimullin’s free-kick hit the crossbar, while Yuriy Fenin came closest for the visitors only to see his effort from a free-kick also rebound off the bar.

Early goals
Elsewhere, JK Tulevik Viljandi and JK Trans Narva also started with victories against newly-promoted sides, with Tulevik enjoying a 2-1 win at Valga, who had to play the game in Tallinn as their own artificial pitch was not ready. Two goals in four first-half minutes from Marius Dovydenas and Enver Jääger put the away side in control, and although Valga pulled a goal back after 58 minutes through Dmitri Ustritski, who scored against his former club, they were unable to find an equaliser.

Hard-earned three points
Trans initially struggled at FC Kuressaare, but eventually broke down the only amateur side in the top division. New signing Siksten Kasimir scored the opening goal after 61 minutes, before goals from Nikolai Lõsanov and Kasimir again in the last ten minutes completed a fine start to the season for Trans.