Third in the 2024 Allsvenskan, AIK were beginning their European campaign at this stage of the UECL, while Paide had secured a 7-3 aggregate win over Magpies of Gibraltar in the First Qualifying Round.
It didn't take long for the team from Solna to get up and running in the competition - just seven minutes in, Johan Hove's cross was guided into the back of the net by the head of Bersant Celina.
Celina had another effort on goal soon after, which goalkeeper Ebrima Jarju was equal to, but any hopes the Swedish side had of the floodgates opening failed to materialise. The only other shot on target before half-time came from Paide's Pa Corr, who forced a save from Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
The teams traded chances early in the second half, with Paide continuing to threaten through Daniel Luts and Henrik Ojamaa, but it was the Gnaget who finally found the second goal with a quarter of the match remaining.
Taha Ayari had possession inside the area but was forced out wide, and from the left, played the ball back to Aron Csongvai, who was afforded time and space to unleash a low strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
That goal knocked the stuffing out of the Estonian side, who failed to generate another clear opportunity to reduce the deficit, and had Jarju to thank for keeping them in the tie, as he denied Celina and Dino Besirovic was time was winding down.
AIK, therefore, had to be content with a two-goal advantage to take back to Strawberry Arena for next Thursday's second leg.
