LAAGRI, Estonia (Interstat) — Harju JK Laagri scored three goals inside the first 18 minutes and defeated Flora 3-1 on Wednesday. Harju JK Laagri improved to 4-0 in the competition and 5-0 across all competitions. Flora dropped to 1-3 in the competition and 1-3 overall. Kaspar Laur was Harju JK Laagri’s top star with two goals, while Marten Kelement had one goal and one assist. Rudenko Daniil added an assist, and Erik Sorga scored Flora’s only goal. Harju JK Laagri’s season record in this competition is now four wins and no losses, and its record across all competitions is now five wins and no losses. Flora’s season record in this competition is now one win and three losses, and its record across all competitions is now one win and three losses.

The decisive stretch arrived almost immediately. Laur opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, Kelement doubled the lead in the 7th minute and Laur scored again in the 18th minute. Kelement’s assist came during that early surge, and Rudenko also recorded an assist for Harju JK Laagri. The three-goal burst gave the home team a commanding cushion and forced Flora to chase the match from the outset. Kelement’s goal in the seventh minute followed Laur’s opener by four minutes. Laur’s second goal in the 18th came 11 minutes after Kelement’s strike. Laur finished with two goals in 90 minutes, Kelement had one goal and one assist in 90 minutes, and Rudenko had one assist in 90 minutes. Laur had also played 90 minutes in his previous appearance against Nomme Utd.

Flora’s response came late. Sorga scored in the 78th minute and played 84 minutes before being substituted. Varjund T. received a yellow card for Flora in the 28th minute, and Zenjov S. was booked in the 81st minute. Harju JK Laagri kept Flora from cutting further into the lead despite the late pressure. Flora’s goal arrived too late to change the shape of the match, and Harju JK Laagri managed the final stages with a two-goal advantage. The match was played at Harju JK Laagri’s home ground, where the home side protected the lead after halftime.

Both teams made changes after the hour. Harju JK Laagri brought on Eerme K. and Kriis K. in the 61st minute, while Flora introduced Kuraksin D. at the same point. Harju JK Laagri made Palutaja H. a 67th-minute substitution. Flora replaced Varjund T. and brought on Alamaa S. in the 71st minute. Harju JK Laagri used Binate A. and Soo S. as 82nd-minute substitutions. Flora brought on Valdmets R. for Sorga E. in the 84th minute. The card and substitution pattern left the closing minutes with little rhythm. The substitutions began in the 61st minute and continued through the 84th.

The result continued recent form for both clubs. Harju JK Laagri had beaten Parnu JK Vaprus and Nomme Utd by identical 2-0 scores, edged Kalju 1-0 and routed FC Tallinn 10-0. Flora had beaten Tammeka 2-0 but lost to Levadia 3-1 and Kuressaare 2-0. Harju JK Laagri next visits Levadia in the Meistriliiga on Saturday. The home win kept Harju JK Laagri unbeaten in the competition and across all competitions, while Flora remained on one win in the competition and overall. The result gave Harju JK Laagri another win in a season that has included victories over Parnu JK Vaprus, Nomme Utd, Kalju and FC Tallinn.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Harju JK Laagri 2, Flora 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Harju JK Laagri with a 77.7 percent probability to win. Flora had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 4 finished against the over/under line of 3.5.