Teever hits new high for Estonia
Saturday, 4 September 2004
By Margus Luik at A. Le Coq Arena
[1] Estonia continued their 100 per cent start to their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign by beating Luxembourg by a record margin. Having kicked off with a narrow 2-1 win against Liechtenstein last month, Estonia turned on the style in Tallinn to record their best World Cup victory and maintain top spot in Group 3.
Martinkenas honoured
[2] Estonia's impressive performance was a fitting tribute to former national team goalkeeping coach Valdemaras Martinkenas, who passed away last July and was remembered here for his services to the national team prior to kick-off.
Teever start
[3] Estonia coach Arno Pijpers surprisingly dropped Andres Oper, Sergei Terehhov and Indrek Zelinski to the bench and gave FC TVMK Tallinn's Ingemar Teever his first start. And Teever justified his selection after only seven minutes, when he headed in Joel Lindpere's corner from the right. Moments later, Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko came close to adding to Estonia's lead, sending a header from another Lindpere corner just wide.
Huss dismissed
[4] Luxembourg, who lost their opening Group 3 fixture 3-1 away to Slovakia last month, did not threaten until the 24th minute, when former Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfield player Manuel Cardoni's shot from 20 metres was well saved by Mart Poom in the Estonia goal. And their hopes of getting back into the match faded six minutes later when striker Daniel Huss was sent off for bringing down left-back Urmas Rooba from behind.
Own goal
[5] After missing two good chances, Zahovaiko played his part in Estonia's second goal on 41 minutes. Teever was again involved, sending in a dangerous cross from the right, and when Zahovaiko challenged Manou Schauls in the penalty area, the Luxembourg defender directed the ball into his own goal.
Record breaker
[6] Estonia started slowly in the second half but were soon putting pressure on Alija Besic in the Luxembourg goal and added a third on 61 minutes. Lindpere crossed for substitute Oper, who flicked the ball beyond the despairing Besic for his 24th international goal. Just five minutes later Rooba's long cross into penalty area was collected by Teever, whose one-touch pass freed Kristen Viikmäe to strike his side's record fourth goal of the afternoon.
Portugal test
[7] The next test of Estonia's campaign comes against Portugal next Wednesday, while Luxembourg will continue their search for a first World Cup win since 1972 at home to Latvia.