TALLINN (Interstat) — Mattias Mannilaan scored in the 48th minute, and Kalju made that goal stand for a 1-0 home victory over Kuressaare at Hiiu staadion on Sunday. Mannilaan recorded the only goal of the match, while Fjodor Jekimov was credited with the assist. The result moved Kalju to three wins, two losses and one draw in the competition, while Kuressaare is now two wins, three losses and one draw. Across all competitions, Kalju stands at three wins, two losses and one draw, and Kuressaare is three wins, three losses and one draw. The home side secured the result despite a tight match that remained without a goal through the first half.

The breakthrough came three minutes after halftime when Mannilaan found the net. Kuressaare, the visiting side, could not produce an equalizing goal and finished the match with none. Kalju’s defense then protected the one-goal advantage through the remainder of the contest. The game included disciplinary moments for the home side, with Baptista T. booked in the 60th minute and Podholjuzin M. booked in the 62nd minute. Kuressaare made the first substitution of the match in the 55th minute, with Visse A. involved in the change. Kalju made its first substitution in the 65th minute, with Baptista T. involved, and added changes involving Ivanov N. in the 70th minute and Orlov M. in the 82nd minute.

Kuressaare’s later substitutions included Saar R. in the 81st minute and Svedovski A. in the 88th minute. The changes gave both sides fresh legs for the closing stretch, but Kuressaare could not turn its late adjustments into a goal. Kalju held its shape and limited the visitors’ chances as the match moved toward its final minutes. The home side’s goal remained the difference, and Kalju closed out the win at Hiiu staadion. The match stayed compact after the goal, with Kalju protecting its lead and Kuressaare unable to find a finishing touch.

Kuressaare’s season in the competition has included a 1-1 draw at Parnu JK Vaprus, a 1-0 loss to Paide, a 2-0 loss to Levadia, a 1-0 win at Narva, a 2-0 win over Flora and a 4-2 win over Saku Sporting. Kalju’s previous results include a 2-0 win at Paide, a 2-1 win over Flora, a 3-0 loss at Nomme Utd, a 2-2 draw at Parnu JK Vaprus and a 1-0 loss to Harju JK Laagri. Those results framed a match in which Kalju entered with home advantage and converted it into a narrow victory. Kuressaare remained within one goal throughout the second half but could not find the finishing touch. Kalju’s Jekimov provided the assist on the decisive play, and Mannilaan’s finish proved enough for the home side.

The result added three competition wins to Kalju’s ledger and left Kuressaare with a second competition loss in its recent run. Kalju’s competition record now stands at three wins, two losses and one draw, while Kuressaare’s competition record is two wins, three losses and one draw. In all competitions, Kalju is three wins, two losses and one draw, and Kuressaare is three wins, three losses and one draw. Kalju’s home victory came in a match that featured six substitutions and two yellow cards, both for the home side. The decisive moment remained Mannilaan’s 48th-minute goal, assisted by Jekimov, and it proved enough for the home side on Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kalju 2, Kuressaare 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Kalju with a 96.1 percent probability to win. Kalju had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.