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The Champions League qualifying game in Cyprus turned into a real penalty shootout drama for Erling Moe’s team.
MOLDE – QARABAG 0-0, 6-5 after the penalty shoot-out:
Molde did not play a good game against the Azerbaijani opponent on neutral ground on the holiday island, but stayed away in regulation time.
A Molde team with many tired legs in the Cypriot heat went into extra innings without being able to take the lead in the match.
The team held on to the ropes for a long time, but appeared to be saved by the bell when they were awarded a penalty in the first extra inning.
But Etzaz Hussain’s penalty was stopped by Qarabag’s goalkeeper, before Molde’s profile even ruined the return.
The 27-year-old was replaced a few minutes before the second extra inning ended and had to watch the penalty shootout drama from the bench.
There he saw Ohi, Fredrik Aursnes, Eirik Hestad, Tobias Christensen, Martin Ellingsen and Kristoffer Haugen put the ball into goal, and the blue dress was finally able to release the jubilation after goalkeeper Andreas Linde became the great hero.
After the players scored in a row, Molde’s last Swedish defense saved Badavi Huseynov’s attempt.
The result means that Molde is now ready for the playoffs, the last hurdle before group games at the most prestigious European tournament.
There they meet Tokmac Nguen and his Hungarian club Ferancvaros after beating Dinamo Zagreb 2-1.
– I’ve been looking forward to that match since Celtic, Tokmac tells Nettavisen, and points to the previous qualifying round when his Hungarian team beat the great Scottish team 2-1.
BOMMED: Etzaz Hussain missed when he got the chance from the penalty spot in extra innings.
Photo: Petros Karadjias (AP)
I fought to create opportunities
Qarabag had several good chances to take the lead in the second half, but on every occasion the Azerbaijanis failed in the final moments.
Abdellah Zoubir had a gigantic chance after just over an hour of play when he got the ball alone with Andreas Linde after an ugly free kick from Molde, but the Swedish last chance gave him the shot and avoided the goal.
Soon after, Molde had a rare visit when Eirik Hestad received the ball at the back post, but the midfielder did not have enough power on the header when he tried to outwit Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev.
In the 76th minute, an error by the local left defense allowed Mahir Emreli to take the lead and overtook the local goalkeeper, adding another goal for the visitors.
The Molde players seemed to feel the tension in their legs throughout the match, and Qarabag controlled most of the show at AEK Arena in Larnaca.
CL-QUALITY: Eirik Hestad in action against Qarabag.
Photo: Petros Karadjias (AP)
Hussain penalty
Five minutes after the extra inning, Qarabag had another gigantic chance after an ugly foul by Leke James.
The Molde forward’s cross pass in his own half was intercepted and ended up in the legs of Emreli. The striker had to finish inside the penalty area, but once again Linde was in his place and prevented scoring with a brilliant save.
Erling Moe pitched Mathis Bolly in the extra innings, and the speedy winger nearly slipped into the lead goal just after, when he arrived a half-second late on a post from Ola Brynhildsen.
However, the referee was unimpressed and admonished him for diving. Oh, Omiijuanfo did not have a good day today, continuously slipping on the muddy ground.
However, the referee was not impressed and cautioned him for diving, and awarded a penalty for the hosts in the 28th minute, amid protests from the visitors.
The penalty bar, however, marked a change of pace in the match, and Molde went higher in the game.
They seized the moment in the penalty area and finally won after Andreas Linde saved Qarabag’s sixth attempt.
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