After drinking long into the wee small hours, so wee in fact it was daylight by the time the bar was vacated, most of the drinking being done in the quite stupendous Hell Hunt, Sunday brought some respite from alcohol in the form of another game.
Levadia Tallinn's origins can be traced back to 1998 when Estonian metal manufacturers OÜ Levadia began sponsoring Esiliiga (Division 2) club, FK Olümp Maardu. The sponsorship involved the club changing it's name FC Levadia. With promotion to the Meistriliiga secured the club then merged with Tallinna Sadam to become FC Levadia Tallinn.
Levadia Tallinn won the Meistriliiga at the first attempt in 1999 and have won it 7 more times since. They are the current champions. The name will be famous to Welsh supporters as they narrowly beat Bala Town 3-2 over two-legs in a 2013 Europa League qualifying round.
The Kadriorg Stadium (or Kadrioru Staadion in Estonian) is Estonia's oldest ground, having been opened in 1926. The ground is an easy 20 minute walk from the old town and is located within the picturesque Kadriorg Park. It was the scene of the infamous World Cup Qualifier between Estonia and Scotland back in October 1996.
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| A Kadriorg floodlight! |
Scotland trained at the Kadriorg the night before the game, where they found the floodlighting inadequate and protested to FIFA. After a meeting of the FIFA executive committee the kick off time was brought forward to 3pm local time. The Estonian FA were unhappy with the switch, due to potential loss of earnings from TV, sponsors etc and refused to change their plans.
Yugoslavian referee Miroslav Radoman led Scotland out onto the pitch, with the Tartan Army chanting "One team in Tallinn, There's only one team in Tallinn". Billy Dodds kicked off, skipper John Collins took a touch of the ball before the referee blew the whistle and abandoned the game. The Estonian team arrived at the stadium later in the afternoon, preparing for the original 6.45pm kick-off time. The match was later played on a neutral ground (in Monaco) and ended 0-0.
Yugoslavian referee Miroslav Radoman led Scotland out onto the pitch, with the Tartan Army chanting "One team in Tallinn, There's only one team in Tallinn". Billy Dodds kicked off, skipper John Collins took a touch of the ball before the referee blew the whistle and abandoned the game. The Estonian team arrived at the stadium later in the afternoon, preparing for the original 6.45pm kick-off time. The match was later played on a neutral ground (in Monaco) and ended 0-0.
There were no such dramas today though you could question whether Kalev did turn up based on what happened this afternoon! Having said that, there were no indications of what was to happen in this game based on the first twenty minutes. Yes, the home side were well on top but couldn't find a way past the Kalev goalkeeper. On 21 minutes Egart Heintare put through his own net and that well and truly opened the floodgates.
Vladislav Ivanov (22 & 30) Andreas Raudsepp (28) and Aleksandr Kulinitš (40) ensured that Levadia went in 5-0 up at the break. The game was so one-sided it was ridiculous.
The goals continued in the second half with Ivanov completing his hat-trick on 51 minutes. In scoring his third goal he pulled a muscle and was replaced by substitute Igor Subbotin, who managed to help himself to a 15 minute hat-trick (62, 65 & 77). As much as I was willing it to happen, a tenth goal proved elusive but the result keeps Levadia hot on the tails of Flora in the race for the title.
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| The Levadia Tallinn Ultras |
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