– It’s a bit poor form, but that’s life. It’s not something we focus too much on, Moe told NRK before the match started.
By then, they had received the message that the pitch would not be watered, in accordance with the rule that the home team decides whether to water before the match and during halftime.
– But poor form?
– That’s what I said, said Moe, who was more concerned about a potential increase in injury risk.
The managing director of Sandnes Ulf, Øystein Elvestad, explains the decision as follows:
– In the regulations from NFF point 5.7 on page 6, it clearly states that the home team decides whether there should be watering or not. “The home team decides whether to water before the match and during halftime. The organizing club must inform about its decision at the match meeting/arrival at the stadium.”
– This was communicated at the match meeting. We are concerned with following guidelines and rules, which we have of course done in this context, he wrote in a text message to NRK.
Sandnes Ulf’s coach Steinar Nilsen took it all with a smile.
– Poor form, says Moe. What do you say about that?
– I’m not sure what they would have done if they had faced Real Madrid, he said grinning before the match.
NOT A FAN: Erling Moe would have liked to see the pitch in Sandnes watered before the match started.
Photo: Thomas Andersen / NTB
– Difficult to play on
In NRK’s studio, experts, similar to Erling Moe, pointed to a potential injury risk.
– Firstly, it should be equal. Teams must have the best possible surface to play on. It is clearly intentional to get a slower game, which can reduce the pace of the ball. Molde has experience with that from last year, from the semifinal against Kjelsås, said Åge Hareide.
– I completely agree with that argument. Especially when you have so many matches, the strain is entirely different when playing on a dry artificial pitch. But if I were Sandnes Ulf, I wouldn’t have watered the pitch myself. I’ll be that honest, said Andrine Stolsmo Hegerberg.
Molde players also noted the dry pitch after the match.
– It becomes difficult to play on a dry pitch like today, but we handled it fine. It was a challenge, but we couldn’t think too much about it. Then we managed to score two set-piece goals, says Moldes Emil Breivik after the 2-0 victory.
– There wasn’t much of the fine play you want in a semifinal. It was rather rough out there and the ball bounced almost everywhere. Dead balls were crucial today, and we scored two goals on that, says teammate Kristian Eriksen.
GOALSCORER: Kristian Eriksen scored the first goal of the match.
Photo: NTB
Fulfilled the favorite label
Molde is the reigning cup champion and contending for medals in the Eliteserien. Sandnes Ulf, on the other hand, has already been relegated from the 1st division. Thus, Molde were the overwhelming favorites in Wednesday’s match.
A favorite label they also fulfilled, although the away team never really sparkled. Kristian Eriksen sent Molde into the lead towards the end of the first half when he guided the ball into the goal after a corner kick.
– There wasn’t much celebration from Erling Moe. Nor from the Molde boys exactly here. It was more relief, said NRK’s expert commentator Kristoffer Løkberg after the goal.
Sandnes Ulf also had their chances, but just over ten minutes before the end came Molde’s second goal when Kristoffer Haugen headed the ball against the crossbar and over the line. At least that was what the assistant referee thought, who signaled for a goal.
– It’s impossible to tell from this angle. You get fooled and don’t get a clear picture of it, Løkberg said after seeing the first replay.
Later there was a replay from a slightly better angle. It also convinced Løkberg.
– I believe it was absolutely correct to raise that flag and signal for a goal. There was a better angle and it was very clear that the entire ball was over the line, said Løkberg.
OVER THE LINE: That was what both NRK’s expert commentator and the assistant referee believed.
Høiland announced retirement live
Veteran striker Tommy Høiland, who won the cup with Molde in 2013 and 2014, was substituted in during the last quarter for Sandnes Ulf.
After the match, the 35-year-old stated that his career is now coming to an end.
– I believe this will be my last match now. With two insignificant matches left in the league, I will not take any minutes from the young guys, he told NRK.
– I have dreaded the day I would retire for a long time. But I have come to terms with it, and the decision was made a long time ago, so it’s fine, said Høiland.
– Is it a bittersweet day?
– Yes, it always is when such a day comes. But that’s how it is; one day it ends for everyone. It’s unfortunate to go out with a loss, but we have made history and reached a semifinal. It’s a big day for the club, says the striker.
Published
30.10.2024, at 19.53
Updated
30.10.2024, at 22.14
The match between Molde and Sandnes Ulf in the Eliteserien was marked by discussions around the playing conditions, particularly the state of the pitch. Erling Moe, along with other experts, expressed concerns about the dry artificial surface, suggesting it posed a potential injury risk due to the slower game it created. Åge Hareide noted that teams deserve the best possible conditions to avoid deliberate attempts to reduce the pace of play.
Molde, the reigning cup champions, faced a struggling Sandnes Ulf, who had already been relegated from the first division. The game did not showcase the fluid play one might expect, with both teams struggling on the dry pitch. Cristian Eriksen opened the scoring for Molde shortly before halftime, a moment met with relief rather than celebration. Molde ultimately secured a 2-0 victory, with their second goal confirmed by the assistant referee after Kristoffer Haugen’s header crossed the goal line.
Throughout the encounter, discussions arose about the handling of set pieces and the challenges posed by the pitch conditions, but Molde managed to uphold their favored status against a less competitive Sandnes Ulf.