Paide turn the tide to beat Flora
Paide came from behind to defeat Flora 2-1 in the Meistriliiga, a result that tightens the race at the top of the table. Flora had taken the lead through S. Alamaa shortly after half-time, but the visitors responded with two late goals to claim their first away win of this run. The match, played on 30 August, shifted momentum in the final third. Flora started brighter, with Andrade picking up a booking in the 14th minute as the home side pressed. Alamaa gave the hosts a cushion in the 47th minute, and for a stretch it looked as though Flora would hold on. Things came to a head in the closing stages when Paide turned up the pressure. Darboe equalised in the 86th minute, and Miller wrapped it up in stoppage time. The away side had been outworked in possession but they picked up the chances that mattered. Flora, by then, had nothing left in the tank. The statistics tell a familiar story: Paide dominated possession at 53 per cent and registered seven shots on target compared to Flora's two. The home side threw 105 attacks at the goal but could only find the woodwork once. The visitors, meanwhile, landed 120 attacks and converted their share. Flora remain third with 42 points from 23 games, having lost nine and drawn none. Paide sit fourth on 39 points after 11 victories and six draws. The gap between them has narrowed to three points, and the table looks more competitive than it did a month ago. The result ended Paide's recent slump. They had lost 1-4 to Levadia and 1-4 to Rapid Vienna in their last two outings, but the win over Flora suggests they have found their footing. Flora, meanwhile, will be disappointed to have surrendered a lead after controlling the first half.The match will live in memory for those final 15 minutes. Flora had the better of the opening exchanges but Paide's ability to respond under pressure proved decisive. Three goals in the second half decided it, and the visitors took the points.
