Shoot-out earns Flora Estonian Cup

FC Flora failed to make their chances count during 120 minutes of open play in Tuesday's Estonian Cup final but eventually prevailed 4-3 on penalties against JK Nõmme Kalju, with coach Tarmo Rüütli adamant that "the strongest team won".

Consolation prize
Last season's beaten finalists dominated throughout but the Nõmme Kalju goal led a charmed life until the shoot-out. Seven-time Estonian champions Flora, third in the Meistriliiga, duly claimed their fourth Estonian Cup, with Rüütli telling uefa.com: "We deserved to win in 90 minutes but could not score. Either way, the strongest team won." The pain of defeat for Nõmme Kalju was softened somewhat by the knowledge that they will play in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers next season, since Flora had already qualified for the competition as 2008 Meistriliiga runners-up. Their Brazilian coach Getulio said: "I'm proud of my boys. We were unlucky today. We will play in the Europa League in the summer and today's match showed that we can play good football."