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– We are far from satisfied. We expect more of ourselves in the second round. We open and climb a little more in the field. Then they get some hatches on the sides. We will be punished for that, Molde coach Erling Moe said after the game.
However, Molde was at the height of Arsenal in the first half and, with the exception of a small glitch before the break, it was difficult to see teams playing in different leagues on a daily basis.
– This is a perfect first round in one of the most difficult stadiums in the Europa League this season, said TV 2 commentator Marius Skjelbæk.
Because it started very well for the blue dresses.
Magnus Wolff Eikrem made a smart pass to Martin Ellingsen, and the 25-year-old sent a cannon to Bernd Leno.
Two own goals destroyed
However, this should not go the way of the Moldans.
In the final minutes of the first half, an unfortunate Kristoffer Haugen ended up sliding the ball into his own net.
The Molde coach was anything but happy with the second half. Fortunately, they are still well placed in Group B of the Europa League.
Photograph: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / NTB
Expert commentator Jesper Mathisen’s verdict was clear:
– That transition was not necessary to give Arsenal with such a short round time.
With that, there was a balance on the accounts after Arsenal got an incorrectly canceled score.
Stian Gregersen, who was removed to national games in November, did not return to the field after the break due to injury.
After the game, Moe was asked to report on Gregersen’s status.
– We’ll see. It has a feeling in the back. Hopefully it won’t last long. I have not received more information than this.
Sheriff Sinyan entered, who after a quarter of an hour acted as his fellow closer Haugen when he shoved the ball into his own net.
Dominated after the break
In the second half, the home team accelerated and the class difference became evident.
Pépé scored the 3-1 goal after a good attack by the Reds, and the local team also had another goal disallowed.
Just before the end, Joe Willock scored the last of the game.
– The boys want to show themselves, then we lose a bit the compactness that we should have against these boys, says Moe.
Despite the brutal loss to the group’s favorite, the Molde coach is interested in his position in the Europa League.
– Now we have played three games and we have achieved six of nine possible points. We have put ourselves in a favorable situation. But it will not be easy to move on, he summed up at the post-match press conference.
