Estonia lost the second match of their brief South American tour 3-0 to Uruguay at Estadio Atilio Paiva in Rivera last Thursday. Martin Caceres scored Uruguay's opener with a straightforward header from a corner. The second also came from a corner, going in off the unfortunate Mikk Reintam for an own goal. Nicolas Lodeiro sealed the win with a nice finish from just inside the box.
It means a run of five successive defeats for the national team, the last four without scoring, since the 1-1 draw with Serbia in Tallinn. The slide in form will need to be addressed in Slovenia in September if their outside chances of a play off spot are to remain.
Kuressaare 0-2 Narva Trans Sillamäe Kalev 7-0 FC Ajax
Goals from Vladislav Fjodorov and Aleksandrs Cekulajevs gave Trans a 2-0 win away at Kuressaare. Sillamäe made short work of FC Ajax in a 7-0 win, the goals coming from Alexander Nikulin (2), Sergei Vihrov, Aleksey Alekseev (2),Aleksandr Kulik and Maksim Paponov.
That consolidatesSillamäe's position ahead of Paide in fifth place and Trans stay in fourth.
Chile made short work of an inexperienced Estonia side on Sunday night, running out 4-0 winners at Estadio Monumental in Santiago. Great first half strikes from Matias Fernandez and Waldo Ponce put Chile in control. A Humberto Suazo penalty on the stroke of half time made it 3-0 and Barcelona bound winger Alexis Sanchez made it 4-0 after a good team move.
The result won't dampen Estonian spirits too much before tomorrow's match against Uruguay as the tour is more of an introduction to international football for the younger players such as Joel Indermitte (FC Viljandi), Albert Prosa (Tammeka), Joonas Tamm (IFK Norkopping) and Meelis Peitre (Flora). Only Tihhon Šišov, Dmitri Kruglov and Sander Puri could be said to be established internationals.
The EJL have also just announced a friendly against Turkey in Istanbul on Wednesday 10th August.
FC Flora have been drawn against Irish champions Shamrock Rovers in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. The two legged tie will be played between 12th/13th July and 19th/20th July with Flora at home in the second leg.
In the first qualifying round of the Europa League, Narva Trans will face FK Rabotnicki of Macedonia and Nõmme Kalju face FC Honka of Finland. The two legs of these ties will be played on 30th June and 7th July. Should Kalju progress they will play either BK Hacken of Sweden or UN Kaerjeng of Luxembourg. Trans could face AC Juvenes-Doganes of San Marino if they were to progress. FC Levadia go straight into the second qualifying round of the Europa League due to their higher league finish (2nd) and will play Differdange 03 of Luxembourg over two legs on 14th and 21st July.
Champions League second qualifying round (Played 12/13 July and 19/20 July) Shamrock Rovers (Ire) v FC Flora
Europa League first qualifying round (Played 30 June and 7 July) FC Honka (Fin) v JK Kalju FK Rabotnicki (Mac) v JK Narva Trans
Europa League second qualifying round (Played 14 and 21 July) FC Levadia v Differdange 03 (Lux)
Nõmme Kalju moved ahead of Levadia into second place in the table following a 3-1 win away at Trans. Tarmo Neemelo headed Kalju into the lead when Trans goalkeeper Dmitry Vyalchinov flapped at a cross on 26 minutes. Sergei Terehhov doubled Kalju's lead two minutes into the second half, tapping home from close range before Aleksandrs Cekulajevs pulled one back for Trans with a great chest and volley from the edge of the penalty area. However, the points were made safe for Kalju by Hidetoshi Wakui in injury time.
The match between FC Ajax and Kuressaare burst into life in the last twenty minutes. Sami-Sander Kivi's backpass on 73 minutes looked innocuous enough, but it managed to bobble over Priit Pikker's foot in the Kuressaare goal to give FC Ajax the lead. Two goals in two minutes from Elari Valmas and Kristen Mere for Kuressaare shortly after put them ahead and looking good for the points until Kivi was apparently involved in an altercation in the penalty box with an FC Ajax player following a corner (the camera didn't manage to pick up the incident). Kivi was sent off and Sergei Tasso put the penalty away to earn a point for FC Ajax. In the final game, Paide picked up a good win at home to Sillamäe - Ats Sillaste's late strike from a narrow angle giving them the points.
Estonia take a young, Meistriliiga heavy squad to South American for their two friendlies next week. They face Chile on Sunday 19th June and Uruguay on Thursday 23rd June. The squad is:
Goalkeepers Pavel Londak - Bucaspor (20/0) Marko Meerits - FC Flora Tallinn (1/0)
Defenders Gert Kams - FC Flora Tallinn (16/0) Igor Morozov - FC Levadia Tallinn (9/0) Karl Palatu - FC Flora Tallinn (5/0) Tikhon Šišov - Hazar Lankaran FK (27/0) Taijo Teniste - FC Levadia Tallinn (7/0) Joseph Reintam - FC Jyväskylä (0/0)
Midfielders Joel Indermitte - FC Viljandi (0/0) Dmitri Kruglov - FC Inter Baku (62/1) Siim Luts - FC Flora Tallinn (2/0) Sergei Mošnikov - FC Flora Tallinn (4/0) Meelis Peitre - FC Flora Tallinn (0/0) Sander Puri - Korona Kielce (31/2) Siim Tenno - Tartu JK Tammeka (0/0)
Forwards Henri Anier - FC Flora Tallinn (0/0) Albert Prosa - Tartu JK Tammeka (0/0) Joonas Tamm - IFK Norrköping (0/0)
The video above is worth watching if only for Igor Morozov's long range own goal for Levadia (right at the start of the video). Trans's Aleksandrs Cekulajevs netted four in the thrashing of FC Ajax to take him clear of Alexey Alekseev as the Meistriliiga's top scorer. The results don't alter the table to any significant effect. Flora still top by seven points.
Nõmme Kalju and Levadia shared a 1-1 draw at the Hiiu Staadion yesterday afternoon, a result that helps neither side in their pursuit of Flora at the top of the table. Nõmme took the lead on 57 minutes when well travelled striker Kristen Viikmäe crashed home a half volley following a free kick from the right. Levadia grabbed a point with an equaliser on 79 minutes - Lithuanian striker Valerijus Mizigurskis stabbed home from six yards after Nõmme failed to clear a free kick. As a result, Flora widened the gap at the top following a routine 3-0 win at home to Kuressaare. The goals came from Andre Frolov, Alo Dupikov and a Valeri Minkenen penalty.
Trans 4-1 Tammeka
Trans sealed the points with three first half goals at home to Tammeka. Top scorer Aleksandrs Cekulajevs put Trans ahead from close range in the 13th minute. Their lead was doubled through a great own goal from Kaspar Kaldoja who headed the ball into his own net off the underside of the bar when under little pressure. Anton Epikhin made it three following a sweeping counter attack from a Tammeka corner. Erik Grigorjev scored a fourth for Trans in the 88th minute with a back post header before Tammeka grabbed a consolation from the head of Alar Alve.
Viljandi 2-3 Sillamäe
Sillamäe nearly threw away a three goal lead at Viljandi, but managed to hang on for a 3- 2 win. Goalless at half time, the game came to life as Sillamäe scored three goals in six minutes through Ilja Monakov (2) and Roman Nesterovski. Aleksandr Kulatsenko pulled one back for Viljandi and Rasmus Munskind netted a second on 87 minutes to make it a nervy last few minutes, but Sillamäe held on. Elsewhere, Paide struggled to a 1-0 win at home to FC Ajax Lasnamäe with Mait Nõmme scoring a late winner. FC Ajax were hampered after they had Belarusian midfielder Dzmitry Papichyts sent off near the start of the second half.
There is also a full Meistriliiga fixture list on Tuesday night.
Estonia suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Faroe Islands in Toftir last night. The defeat hasn't quite dented Estonia's chances of qualification for Euro 2012, more gone at them repeatedly with a blunt object. Estonia now sit four points off Slovenia in the play off place, with Serbia able to go level on points with Slovenia should they win their game in hand. Though things could look rosier if Estonia manage a win in Slovenia in September.
Estonia were undone by two penalties either side of half time. The first, given against Sander Puri for a foul at a corner, was despatched by Frodi Benjaminsen on 43 minutes. A second penalty was awarded just a minute into the second half for a clear foul by Dmitri Kruglov. Benjaminsen's penalty was saved by Sergei Pareiko by tapped in on the follow up by Arnbjorn Hansen. Estonia's misery was deepened by Puri's sending off for a second yellow card on 56 minutes. He will now miss the all important trip to Slovenia.
It was also the Faroes' first win in a European Championship qualifier since 1995 when they did the double over San Marino.
Estonia captain Raio Piiroja is confident qualification for Euro 2012 is still a realistic target ahead of tonight's match against the Faroe Islands in Toftir.
Piiroja told Eesti Paevaleht: "There is a fun atmosphere in the squad, and although it's only a couple of days since the Italy game, the team's spirit has not been affected."
"The new game is already in sight and nobody is crying over Italy. In Italy we did not necessarily expect to win, but against the Faroe Islands we can get three points to bring us back into it."
A win tonight would put Estonia within a point of second placed Slovenia after seven games. Estonia then travel to Slovenia for their next qualifier on 2nd September, followed by Northern Ireland in Tallinn on 6th September.
Heiko Tamm's superb injury time free kick gave Tammeka a good point away to Levadia. Ex-Flora centre back Siim Roops had given Tammeka the lead on six minutes tapping in from close range following a free kick. Lithuanian defender Povilas Šarūnas equalised for Levadia before Vitali Leitan latched onto a hopeful long ball to coolly put them in front shortly after half time. But Tamm's late free kick into the top corner ensured Tammeka went back to Tartu with a point.
Kuressaare 0-2 Viljandi
Two early goals gave Viljandi the points in Kuressaare. Jaan Leimann struck on five minutes and Karl Mööl doubled the lead after possession was given away by the Kuressaare defence on 14 minutes. Kuressaare's misery was compounded by a late penalty miss by Kaarel Saar.
Italy scored a straightforward 3-0 victory over Estonia in Friday night's Group C Euro 2012 qualifier. Giuseppe Rossi put the Italians ahead on 21 minutes following a defensive error. Antonio Cassano made it two before half time with a neat finish from a tight angle. The win was secured by Inter's Giampaolo Pazzini after a great chip over the top from Riccardo Montolivio. The win keeps Italy in control of Group C, five points clear of Slovenia with a game in hand. Estonia travel to the Faroe Islands for Tuesday night's match, one they must surely win if they are to keep up their hopes of a play off place.
Estonia face Italy in Modena tonight (7.45 kick off GMT) in a European Championship Group C qualifying match.
The Estonia squad is:
Goalkeepers (Caps/goals)
Pavel Londak (Bucaspor) 20/0 Sergei Pareiko (Wisła Kraków) 24/0
Defenders
Alo Bärengrub (Nõmme Kalju) 34/0 Enar Jääger (Aalesunds FK) 77/0 Gert Kams (Tallinna FC Flora) 15/0 Raio Piiroja (Fredrikstad FK) 101/8 Taavi Rähn (Tianjin Songjiang) 59/0 Andrei Stepanov (FK Gomel) 83/1 Taijo Teniste (Tallinna FC Levadia) 6/0
Midfielders
Tarmo Kink (Middlesbrough) 51/4 Ragnar Klavan (AZ Alkmaar) 68/1 Dmitri Kruglov (FC Inter Baku) 61/1 Sergei Mošnikov (Tallinna FC Flora) 4/0 Sander Puri (Korona Kielce) 30/2 Martin Vunk (Nea Salamis Famagusta) 33/0
Forwards
Jarmo Ahjupera (Újpest FC) 7/0 Kaimar Saag (Silkeborg IF) 30/2 Sergei Zenjov (Karpaty Lviv) 15/4
The Meistriliiga is fairly well represented with Gert Kams and Sergei Mošnikov of Flora and Alo Bärengrub (Nõmme Kalju) and Taijo Teniste (Levadia) all in the squad. After Italy, Estonia are off to the Faroe Islands for their next qualifying match on Tuesday night.
Flora moved six points clear at the top of the Meistriliiga with a 3-0 win at FC Ajax Lasnamäe. Henri Anier put Flora on their way with the opening goal on 28 minutes but it wasn't comfortable for Flora until they scored their second through Alo Dupikov on 84 minutes. Gert Kams wrapped it up with a goal in injury time. Aleksandrs Cekulajevs scored his 11th of the season with a header from a left wing free kick to give Trans the three points at Paide.
Sillamäe v Nõmme Kalju
Sillamäe and Nõmme Kalju shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Tarmo Neemelo put Nõmme ahead on six minutes with a back post header. Both sides missed a number of chances before Aleksandr Nikulin equalised in the 57th minute for Sillamäe with a shot from out wide that somehow crept in beyond Kert Kutt in the Nõmme goal.
