(Molde–APOEL 0–1) Molde was brought back down to earth after the Brann scalp last weekend.
Thursday,November 28 at 21:19
The Short Version
It was a red-hot Ola Brynhildsen who ensured a long-awaited turnaround with his two goals after three games without a win – simultaneously making Bergen’s title chances in the Eliteserien considerably harder.
Before the Brann victory, Molde had drawn with Bodø/Glimt, been humiliated in Poland in their last conference League match, and then drawn again with Sarpsborg 08.
- It was not a performance good enough. It was not an undeserved loss either, summarized Viaplay expert Lars Tjærnås after the game.
– They have played an almost perfect away game, commented Tjærnås about the away team just before the clock passed 90 minutes.
A few minutes before halftime, APOEL’s towering defender Konstantinos Laifis rose high from a perfectly taken corner and headed in 0–1 – the only goal of the match:
In the first half, Molde had several big chances, but it was the away team that was more effective in front of goal. Albert Posaidala in the Molde goal stopped
In the second half, the away team controlled the game and sealed the victory. Tjærnås was not particularly impressed with what he saw from the commentary booth.
– I think Molde has been extremely careless with what I call basic passes in this game, he pointed out midway through the second half.
Erling Moe and his men therefore stand with three consecutive losses in the Conference League. Away against Belgian Gent (2-1 loss), away against Polish Jagiellonia (3-0 loss), and tonight’s 0–1 loss against Cypriot APOEL.
finnish HJK (away December 12) and Czech Mlada Boleslav (home December 19) are waiting in the last two matches of the league play in the Conference League.
On Sunday, an critically important match against Strømsgodset awaits in this year’s final elite series match. There, Molde will try to defend the crucial 4th place from Rosenborg, who is chasing behind. 4th place guarantees a spot in the second round of the Conference League qualifiers next season.
The New Format in the Conference League
- 36 teams are participating. There will be six “league matches” – three at home and three away.
- Then it’s like in the Champions League and Europa League: The top eight teams in the league phase go directly to the round of 16, while the 9th to 24th places compete for the remaining eight spots in the round of 16.25th to 36th places are eliminated.
- The Conference League started on October 3 and will last until December 19. The knockout phase begins with the round of 32 on January 13.
Final: May 28 in Wroclaw, Poland.
How can Molde leverage young talents like Ola Brynhildsen to improve their performance in upcoming matches?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Football Expert Lars Tjærnås
time.news Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Lars. Following Molde’s recent 0-1 loss to APOEL,what are your initial thoughts on the match?
Lars Tjærnås: Thanks for having me! it was definitely a tough day for Molde.They had just come off a notable victory against Brann, but this match showed that they still have a lot of work to do. They struggled to maintain their form and it was reflected in their performance.
Time.news Editor: Molde now has three consecutive losses in the Conference League. What do you think is causing thes struggles?
lars Tjærnås: It’s a mix of factors. Firstly,their inconsistency has been alarming. before the victory over Brann, they had drew with Bodø/Glimt, faced a humiliating defeat in Poland, and then drew again with Sarpsborg 08. These performances take a toll on the team’s morale. Additionally, as we saw against APOEL, they didn’t play up to their usual standard. Ther was a lack of urgency and precision in their play.
Time.news Editor: There were high hopes for this match after the win against Brann. What do you think whent wrong in their strategy or execution?
Lars Tjærnås: It seems they may have underestimated the opposition. Molde didn’t appear to bring the same intensity to the match as they did against Brann. While APOEL executed a nearly perfect away game, molde failed to step up their game when it mattered most. they needed to control the midfield better and create more opportunities on the attack.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned the execution of an “almost perfect away game” by APOEL. What strengths did they bring to this match that Molde struggled against?
Lars Tjærnås: APOEL was very disciplined defensively and they took advantage of every prospect to counterattack. Their organization on the field and ability to hold their shape made it challenging for Molde to penetrate. They capitalized on Molde’s mistakes and were more clinical in front of goal.
Time.news Editor: In your analysis, is there a silver lining for Molde amid these defeats?
Lars Tjærnås: Absolutely. Every defeat is a learning opportunity. If they can regroup and analyze what went wrong, they can bounce back. The team’s chemistry will improve with time as they learn to play through the struggles. Also,young talents like Ola Brynhildsen are crucial for revitalizing their campaign in the domestic league,keeping their title hopes alive.
Time.news Editor: What should be Molde’s immediate focus as they approach their next matches?
Lars Tjærnås: They need to focus on regaining their confidence. Solidifying their defense will be key, as well as creating more attacking patterns.it’s vital for them to come out with renewed energy and determination in their next game. They need to remind themselves of the potential they have and aim for consistency, especially if they wont to compete effectively in both the league and the conference.
Time.news Editor: Thank you for your insights, Lars. It’s always a pleasure to discuss the nuances of football with you.
Lars Tjærnås: Thank you! It’s great to be here and share my thoughts. Let’s hope to see a stronger Molde in their upcoming fixtures!