December 4, 2021
After the first leg of
the Promotion/Relegation play-off ended in a 0-0 draw, Kalev faced the 185km
journey from the capital to Tartu for the second leg.
Kalev were relegated
from the Meistriliiga in 2020 after finishing bottom and made a strong bid to
earn instant promotion back to the top level, losing only one game all season,
but ultimately finished second in the Esiliiga table to go into the play-off.
They had a chance to win automatic promotion, but needing to win their final game
at Maardu Linnameeskond they were only able to draw 1-1, with Maardu going up
as champions instead.
Kalev were able to
maintain most of their squad from last season but lost leading goal-scorer
Hannes Anier to Levadia, although he was replaced by the signing of 36 year old
former national striker Atse Purje from Finnish side KuPS. Purje scored 24
times in the league but missed the first leg through injury and was only named as
a substitute for today’s game. Nigerian midfielder Abdullahi Alfa was signed
from Latvian side Liepaja, after 4 years with Ventspils. Six of their starting
line-up were 21 years old or younger.
These diaries featured
Tammeka earlier in the season, when they lost at home to Flora Tallinn, and
shortly after that they suffered 8 consecutive defeats, conceding 29 goals in
the process. They also lost 0-9 at Flora, but eventually recovered a little,
with 3 wins in their last 5 games, to finish 8 points clear of Parnu Vaprus to
take 9th place with a record of 7 wins, 4 draws and 19 losses.
Tristan Koskor was their top scorer with 11 goals.
The match was not
played in Tammeka’s normal stadium but instead on an artificial surface in
Tartu. Huge piles of snow could be seen all around the pitch, and the temperature
at kick-off was minus 9 degrees ! The match officials sensibly opted to wear
bobble hats.
Bet365 made Tammeka
4/9 favourites, with Kalev at 9/2 and the draw at 7/2.
The first 20 minutes were
cagey, with the sides looking evenly matched, with the only serious piece of
goalmouth action occurring in the 5th minute, with Lipp's first
time shot from a low cross from the right going a few feet wide. After 24
minutes the Kalev keeper was forced to parry a tame looking side-footed shot from Uljanov, and
three minutes later left back Sotsugov made an important tackle to block Koskor
after a raking ball from midfield had put the Tammeka striker behind the
defence before cutting back inside to line up a shot.
The opening goal
arrived in the 32nd minute. Koskor controlled a cross from the right
wing by Uljanov and as the defenders stood off him, he had time to turn and then send a
shot from just inside the area into the bottom corner.
Kalev then imploded to
concede another goal almost immediately from the kick-off. The ball was played
back to keeper Koroljov, who then unwisely decided to play a pass to Kait in
the middle of the Kalev half. However, Veelma anticipated to intercept,
and then lobbed the bouncing ball over the Kalev keeper and into the net. Two
goals in a minute to give the home side a 2-0 lead after 33 minutes, much to
the delight of the drummers in the crowd.
Kalev managed to get
to half-time without any further damage, but Tammeka deservedly led after
having 65% of possession. Kalev had not had a shot on target.
The interval gave the
visitors the chance to regroup, and with nothing to lose they started to take
the game to Tammeka. Sillamaa saw a glancing header go just wide, and Tammeka keeper
Richter was forced to push away Reimaa's scissor kick from a corner. In between, a
dreadful back pass by Sotsugov went straight to Koskor, who rounded the keeper
but his shot from a wide angle was cleared off the line.
Kalev responded with a
shot into the side netting after an incisive pass by Kait behind the left-back and they
continued to press, with Alfa looking influential in midfield as a couple of
half-chances were created.
Tammeka still looked
dangerous on the break though, and with just over 10 minutes remaining, after a
fine run Matas sent a shot a couple of feet wide. With just under 5 minutes left
to play , Uljanov wrapped up the tie with a diving header from 6 yards that Koroljov
couldn’t keep out of the net.
Tammeka remained in
the Meistiliiga for next season, whilst Kalev will play again in the Esiliiga.
Tartu JK Tammeka : Richter – Teniste, Toomsalu, Lipp, Aloe – Matas,
Anderson ( Laabus ), Kapper, Veelma – Uljanov, Koskor
JK Tallinna Kalev : Koroljov - Reimaa, Laur, Tamberg, Sotsugov – Dzumadil, Alfa, Kait ( Palutaja ) – Sillamaa ( Verherna ), El Aabchi, Velijev
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V49fNjHq4Fw
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