Viljandi Tulevik outlast Levadia Tallinn U19 in 5-3 Esiliiga B thriller

Viljandi Tulevik produced one of the most entertaining attacking displays of the Esiliiga B season, defeating Levadia Tallinn U19 5-3 in an eight-goal contest that swung from a controlled Tulevik lead into a chaotic second-half shootout. The visitors ultimately found the extra gear in the final twenty minutes, turning a 3-3 scoreline into a memorable away victory.

The result gives Tulevik a valuable boost in the Esiliiga B standings and reinforces their reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous transition teams. For Levadia Tallinn U19, the match was another valuable lesson in senior-level football: the young side showed real attacking quality, but they were punished for leaving space behind their midfield line.

Match Overview

Viljandi Tulevik started with intent, pressing Levadia’s young defenders high and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. The opener arrived in the 11th minute when Rasmus Kivimäe latched onto a loose ball inside the box and finished calmly past the goalkeeper. Tulevik doubled the advantage in the 24th minute, again through Kivimäe, who timed his run perfectly to meet a low cross from the right.

Levadia Tallinn U19 responded impressively before half-time. Artur Valge pulled one back in the 31st minute with a composed finish after a quick exchange on the edge of the area, and Marko Pärn levelled the score in the 39th minute with a curling effort that left the Tulevik goalkeeper with no chance. The young home side went into the break with momentum and belief.

Early in the second half, Levadia completed the turnaround. Daniil Kovalenko struck in the 52nd minute to make it 3-2, finishing off a flowing move that cut through Tulevik’s back line. At that point, the match looked as though it might swing permanently in Levadia’s favour, but Tulevik responded with the authority of a more experienced side.

Key Moments

• 11’ – Rasmus Kivimäe (Viljandi Tulevik): A high press forced a turnover, and Kivimäe opened the scoring with a low finish.
• 24’ – Rasmus Kivimäe (Viljandi Tulevik): The striker doubled his tally with a sharp near-post run and finish.
• 31’ – Artur Valge (Levadia Tallinn U19): A neat one-two opened space, and Valge reduced the deficit.
• 39’ – Marko Pärn (Levadia Tallinn U19): A curling strike from outside the box made it 2-2 before half-time.
• 52’ – Daniil Kovalenko (Levadia Tallinn U19): Levadia took a 3-2 lead after a quick passing sequence through the middle.
• 67’ – Rasmus Kivimäe (Viljandi Tulevik): Kivimäe completed his hat-trick, reacting fastest to a rebound to make it 3-3.
• 78’ – Karl Saar (Viljandi Tulevik): A composed finish from the edge of the area restored Tulevik’s lead.
• 90+2’ – Martin Tamm (Viljandi Tulevik): Tamm sealed the win on the counter-attack as Levadia pushed forward.

Tactical Story

Viljandi Tulevik set up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 that became a direct 4-4-2 out of possession. Their plan was clear: win the ball quickly in midfield, then attack the space behind Levadia’s full-backs. Kivimäe’s movement was central to that approach, and Tulevik’s willingness to shoot from distance kept Levadia’s defence guessing throughout.

Levadia Tallinn U19, by contrast, tried to control the game through possession. Their 4-3-3 shape produced some excellent passing sequences, especially during the period when they turned 2-0 down into a 3-2 lead. However, the young side struggled to manage transitions after losing the ball, and Tulevik repeatedly exploited the gaps between the centre-backs and the defensive midfielders.

The decisive tactical shift came after Levadia’s third goal. Tulevik pushed their wingers higher, tightened their midfield line, and began forcing Levadia into longer, less accurate passes. That pressure produced the equaliser, the go-ahead goal, and finally the stoppage-time clincher.

Standout Players

Rasmus Kivimäe was the obvious hero for Viljandi Tulevik. His hat-trick mixed intelligent positioning with clinical finishing, and he was a constant problem for Levadia’s young centre-backs. Karl Saar also impressed with his link-up play and composed finish, while Martin Tamm capped a strong substitute appearance with the final goal.

For Levadia Tallinn U19, Artur Valge and Daniil Kovalenko were the brightest attacking sparks. Valge’s movement and Kovalenko’s willingness to drive forward gave the home side genuine hope. Marko Pärn also showed excellent technique with his first-half equaliser. In the end, though, Levadia’s defensive in