Meistriliiga week 9: Pohlak inspires comeback for Kuressaare

Pelle Pohlak: Kuressaare's saviour

Pelle Pohlak, son of EJL President Aivar, scored two late goals to save a point for Kuressaare at home to Tallinna Kalev in the Meistriliiga yesterday afternoon. Kuressaare had taken an early lead through striker Raido Reinsalu but were behind before half time as Kalev fought back. Japanese midfielder Hiroyuki Mitsuyama scored the equaliser on 32 minutes and Edwin Stüf put them into the lead on 39 minutes. Mitsuyama looked to have wrapped up the points for Kalev with his second of the match midway through the second half to make it 3-1. But Pohlak had other ideas, and his two goals in the last five minutes gave Kuressaare an unlikely point. 

Kuressaare defender (on loan from Flora) Märten Pajunurm is looking for improved concentration: "The game started exactly as our game away at Viljandi [where Kuressaare went 1-0 up early on only to lose 3-1] - we took an early lead then created good opportunities but failed to exploit them....I guess it's a psychological thing, we need to be strong and stay disciplined throughout the entire match." Kalev coach Daniel Meijel was also not happy: "The second half was completely under our control....and then a simple error, a communication problem...the Levadia game was exactly the same story." It was the second time Kalev had conceded two late goals after Levadia came back from a goal down last week to win 2-1.

Tammeka 0-4 Kalju

Kalju continued their imperious early season form with a 4-0 drubbing of Tammeka in Tartu. Juri Jevdokimov opened the scoring, sending Tammeka goalkeeper Andrus Lukjanov the wrong way from the penalty spot following a foul in the box. It was 2-0 shortly after half time via comedy own goal from defender Uku Lilleväli following a mix up with Lukjanov. Kalju captain Alo Bärengrub then added two goals to make it more comfortable, the first a header from an Oliver Konsa cross and the second a tap in following a corner. 

Trans's terrible start to the season continued with a fourth loss in five games at Flora. Flora were 2-0 up in 20 minutes with goals from Karl-Eerik Luigend and Albert Prosa. Sergei Kazakov reduced the deficit just before half time but Trans couldn't find an equaliser in the second half. Trans defender Erik Grigoryev feels his side have improved since Flora beat them 4-0 in the Superkarika at the beginning of the season but there are still improvements to be made: "We lost the midfield again, the second goal was not normal." Trans remain bottom of the table, albeit with some games in hand. 

In a game of few clear cut chances, Rimo Hunt scored the only goal with a good shot on the turn in a 1-0 win for Levadia over Paide at Maarjamäe - highlights available at Sport.err. As a clear 'top 3' looks to be developing, Sillamäe sit in fourth following a 2-0 win at home to Viljandi. Maksim Paponov scored on the stroke of half time and Vladislav Ivanov scored his fifth goal of the season to double the lead with 12 minutes remaining.