LESS THAN THREE years since they finished top of a Europa League group that also included Fenerbahce, Ajax and Celtic, Norwegian outfit Molde are in danger of falling at the first hurdle.
The club, managed by Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Glenavon — who were priced as high as 25/1 by bookmakers before the game — last night in Lurgan in the first leg of their Europa League first round qualifier.
A semi-professional side who finished third in the Northern Irish top flight last season, Glenavon achieved their first European win in 23 years — and just the third in their history — despite the absence of three key players.
Defender James Singleton and last season’s top goalscorer Andrew Mitchell are on holiday, while former Northern Ireland international midfielder Sammy Clingan is on honeymoon. Dubliner Steo Donnelly started for the hosts following his recent transfer from AUL side Usher Celtic.
The teams were level at the break after Rhys Marshall produced a swift response to Eirik Hestad’s opener for Molde. Former Derry City attacker Joshua Daniels put Glenavon ahead in the second half, before Fredrik Aursnes missed the target with a late penalty for the visitors.
Northern Irish Premiership clubs have struggled in Europe in recent years, but Glenavon’s win was the most significant for the league since Linfield defeated AIK of Sweden in 2014, although a second-leg loss saw them fail to advance. Also last night, Crusaders lost 7-0 to Ludogorets of Bulgaria in the first leg of their Champions League tie.
“That’s the proudest I’ve ever been of a performance of any team I’ve been involved in,” Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton told the BBC. “I’m surprised because Molde are a top, top side. I’m so proud of the boys.”
The crowd go wild. Amazing scenes! WE ARE GONNA CONQUER EUROPE. WE ARE CONQUERING EUROPE!!! #beJustAndFearNot
— Glenavon FC (@Glenavon_FC) July 11, 2018
He added: “To a man they were excellent — the attitude, energy and discipline of them, they did really well. I can’t remember an Irish League club, in my time, beating a club of as high a standard as that in Europe. I said to the players after the game to remember this and cherish it because it might not happen again.”
Molde will have home advantage when they aim to overturn the one-goal deficit in the second leg, which is scheduled for next Thursday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side reached the Europa League qualifying rounds after finishing second to Rosenborg in Norway last season.
“I’m very disappointed but sometimes football works this way,” said Solskjaer. “We didn’t take our chances and we were not good enough defensively. We’ve got our work cut out for us next week.”
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