Flora and Paide advance as Levadia exit Europe

FCI Levadia lost to Gothenburg after extra time, while Paide Linnameeskond and Tallinna FC Flora advanced to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, ERR reported.

Flora, who had beaten Welsh champions The New Saints 1-0 at home in the first leg, were held to a goalless draw away and appeared set to progress. The hosts scored late in normal time, however, sending the tie into extra time.

“The match was emotional. We let the opponent score from nowhere in the final minutes, which made the situation a little sad. At that point, the opponent was no longer really dangerous,” Flora head coach Konstantin Vassiljev said.

Neither side scored during the additional 30 minutes, so the tie was decided by a penalty shootout. Flora goalkeeper Evert Grünvald saved the opponents’ first penalty. Tony Varjund’s attempt was also saved, but the Welsh side missed its third kick and Flora converted the rest of their penalties to secure qualification.

Flora will face Andorran champions Inter d’Escaldes in the third qualifying round, with the first leg scheduled to be played away on Thursday.

“We need to get home and start recovering. We already have a match against Harju on Sunday, so we also have to prepare for that physically and emotionally. It will not be easy; it is a challenge, but it is something we simply have to accept,” Vassiljev said.

He added that the team’s preparation for Inter d’Escaldes would depend on an analysis of the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Vassiljev said Flora also needed to improve their finishing after the two matches against The New Saints.

Levadia’s tie against the Swedish club was decided in extra time. The Estonian side trailed 1-0 after normal time, and Göteborg scored twice more in extra time. Levadia pulled one goal back near the end, but it was not enough to advance.

“The boys gave everything. I saw it, and I know what we are capable of today. The boys fought until the very end,” Levadia head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko said.

Levadia goalkeeper Karl Andre Vallner saved two penalties during the match and was named the team’s standout performer.

“It does not matter what you do in goal. If you lose, you lose; the team wins and the team loses. I do not feel good at all right now. It is a shame. We did not play at our level. In the first match, we definitely played to our level; this match fell short,” Vallner said.

Paide Linnameeskond will also continue in European competition.