Pre-season Friendly Against FC Flora Ends in Narrow Defeat

FCI Levadia faced FC Flora on Saturday, 14 February, in the Winter Tournament and had to settle for a narrow 1–0 defeat.

FIRST HALF

The loud support from both sets of fans created a great atmosphere at the EJL Indoor Football Hall for this pre-season friendly. The battle on the pitch was intense, but goals were hard to come by.

Bubacarr Tambedou was at the heart of Levadia’s most dangerous moments. In the third minute, he set up Mark Oliver Roosnupp for a good shooting opportunity, but Flora goalkeeper Kivila was alert. In the seventh minute, Levadia’s new signing Felix Sambe got a shot away inside the box, but the ball went half a metre wide.

In the eighth minute, Frank Liivak was forced off due to injury and was replaced by Maksimilian Skvortsov. Just minutes after coming on, Skvortsov delivered a fine cross to Tambedou, who struck the crossbar from close range in the 12th minute.

Levadia’s heavy pressure continued as Skvortsov tried his luck from distance, but Kivila was once again equal to the task. Flora struggled to break into Levadia’s half, and just before the break Sambe had a great chance, only to see his shot tipped away from the top corner by Kivila.

SECOND HALF

The second half began with continued pressure from FCI Levadia. Early on, Tambedou unleashed another powerful shot that once again hit the crossbar.

In the 50th minute, Skvortsov found Sambe with a precise pass, and Sambe finished past Kivila, but the assistant referee ruled the goal offside.

The pressure remained. After a corner, captain Peetson fired a strong effort on goal, but Kivila produced another save. In the 55th minute, Sambe tested the goalkeeper again, but Flora’s shot-stopper stood firm.

Despite creating several more chances, Levadia could not find the breakthrough. As football often proves, if you don’t score, you concede. In the 86th minute, Flora scored from a corner when Levadia academy graduate Oscar Pihela directed the ball into the net guarded by Karl Andre Vallner – 1–0. No further goals followed, and Flora secured a narrow win.

Head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko told Soccernet after the match:
“In the final phase, we need to finish our chances. We need more decisiveness in and around the box. We had good positions to shoot from, but sometimes the final touch let us down. The positive is that we reached the opponent’s goal through structured play in both halves. I think the boys showed quite good attacking football. Personally, I really liked this game – lots of duels, intense – exactly what we need.”

FCI Levadia’s pre-season friendlies have now concluded, and the Premium Liiga season begins in three weeks. In the opening match, Levadia will host FC Kuressaare at Sportland Arena. The match on 8 March kicks off at 12:30, and discounted tickets are available via Piletitasku.

FCI Levadia’s 2026 club card is also available.

The club’s major season opening event will take place on 1 March at Ülemiste Apollo Cinema. More information is available on the club’s Facebook page.

Photo: FCI Levadia