Hat-trick looms for Levadia

By Margus Luik

FC Levadia Tallinn will be crowned champions in the Estonian Meistriliiga should they avoid defeat in their last two games.

Advantage Levadia
Levadia, who have lost just once all season, lead FC TVMK Tallinn by six points. Only a complete collapse in their remaining matches can deny them a third championship to add to the titles they won in 1999 and 2000 as FC Levadia Maardu. In the unlikely event of the top two finishing level on points, a play-off would ensue.

TVMK denied
After their solitary defeat by JK Trans Narva last month, Levadia drew twice against TVMK, 0-0 at home and 2-2 away, where they came from behind with veteran forward Argo Arbeiter scoring twice in the second half. Estonian international Ingemar Teeve had put TVMK 2-0 ahead.

Flora in bloom
Meanwhile, 2003 champions FC Flora, in third place, are eight points behind Levadia and out of contention. Nonetheless, they have returned to form after two straight losses in September, first by winning 6-1 at FC Valga in what turned out to be coach Arno Pijpers' last game in charge.

High scoring
Janno Kivisild took over as caretaker and, against TVMK, his side salvaged an away point in a 1-1 draw as 17-year-old Jürgen Kuresoo equalised four minutes from time. Flora's good run then continued on Monday with a magnificent 9-0 victory against FC Lootus Alutaguse.

Last-gasp defeat
Elsewhere, fourth-placed Trans, who played some excellent football throughout the autumn and went eight matches unbeaten – including wins over Levadia and Flora - slumped to a 2-1 defeat at JK Merkuur Tartu last Saturday. Renars Zarčenko hit the winner in the second minute of stoppage time after Trans's Dmitri Lipartov had missed a penalty with the scores level.

Expansion expected
With the Estonian Football Association (EJL) due to expand the Meistriliiga to ten teams for the 2005 season, the EJL is encountering problems finding clubs that meet its licensing requirements. While JK Tammeka Tartu and JK Tervis Pärnu have already been promoted, first division leaders and champions-elect, FC Levadia-2 Tallinn, will not be allowed to join the top flight because of their affiliation with the prospective Meistriliiga title-holders.