Sander Alamaa scored both goals as Flora Tallinn U19 held Chelsea U19 to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Youth League second-round tie at A. Le Coq Arena.
The 18-year-old gave Flora a dream start after just four minutes. Patrick Pihlak won the ball and released Alamaa down the left, where he drove into the penalty area, cut inside and curled a fine finish beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Freddy Bernal.
Chelsea responded through Jashayde Greenwood before Chizaram Ezenwata made it 2-1 shortly before half-time.
The match changed again early in the second half when Chelsea defender Dante Waite was sent off. Five minutes later, Flora were awarded a penalty and Alamaa converted from the spot to make it 2-2.
Chelsea later went down to nine men, but Flora could not find a winner and the tie remains level ahead of the return leg at Cobham on 4 November.
There is a nice bit of context to Alamaa’s performance.
Before the match, Chelsea coach Harry Hudson had praised Flora’s youth development and specifically pointed to the Estonian side’s use of the left flank, where Alamaa could operate. Hudson said Chelsea had studied Flora’s previous Youth League tie against HB and highlighted both their organisation and the technical ability of their players.
So Chelsea had done their homework.
Alamaa still scored twice.
Soccernet also noted that Alamaa remained one of Flora’s main attacking threats throughout the match, while the home side competed far more evenly with Chelsea after the break. A crowd of 2,745 watched Flora earn a result that leaves everything open for the second leg in London.
SkyrScout profiled Alamaa earlier this year, highlighting his acceleration, direct running and threat from the left side.
Against one of Europe’s most famous academies, those qualities were on display again.