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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Dundalk v Molde, Europa League

Filippo Giovagnoli’s side begin their Group B campaign by facing the Norwegian champions in Tallaght.

Good evening, folks. Welcome along to our liveblog of Dundalk’s opening game of their Group B campaign in the Europa League.

Filippo Giovagnoli’s side will be hoping to get off to a positive start against Norwegian champions Molde at Tallaght Stadium, where kick-off is at 5.55pm.

If you’re unable to get to a TV (the game is live on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport) then stick with us here and we’ll keep you up to date throughout the game.

Here are the teams…

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Dan Cleary, Brian Gartland, Darragh Leahy; Chris Shields, Greg Sloggett; John Mountney, Sean Murray, Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban.

Subs: Aaron McCarey, Sean Hoare, Patrick McEleney, David McMillan, Andy Boyle, Daniel Kelly, Cameron Dummigan, Jordan Flores, Jamie Wynne, Stefan Colovic.

Molde: Andreas Linde; Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Martin Bjørnbak, Stian Gregersen, Kristoffer Haugen; Fredrik Aursnes, Etzaz Hussain; Eirik Hestad, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Mathis Bolly; Ohi Omoijuanfo.

Subs: Alexandro Craninx, Mathias Ranmark, Birk Risa, Sheriff Sinyan, Mattias Moström, Martin Ellingsen, Erling Knudtzon, Tobias Christensen, Ola Brynhildsen, Eirik Ulland Andersen.

dundalk-players-ahead-of-the-game Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

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dundalk-players-warm-up-before-the-game

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Dundalk 0-0 Molde

1 – The game has kicked off.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

2 – Bright opening from Dundalk as Murray crosses from the left but Molde get it clear.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

5 – Molde finding their feet now, with Dundalk having to be alert at the back.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

6 – Excellent cross from the left by Darragh Leahy forces Molde goalkeeper Andreas Linde to punch clear.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

8 – Molde corner taken by Eikrem. Gary Rogers is fouled, however, so it’s a free-kick to Dundalk.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

9 -  Mountney gets a cross in after good work from Murray and Gannon, but it’s easily claimed by Linde.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

10 – Excellent passing move by Molde in the final third is thwarted by an important intervention from Leahy.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

12 – Danger for Molde as Linde’s pass out from the back is intercepted by Duffy, but fortunately for the visitors Hoban is penalised for an offside.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

15 – Free-kick for Dundalk in a dangerous area for a foul on Sloggett.

It’s been a positive start from the Lilywhites.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

16 – Mountney has a shot but his low effort drifts wide.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

18 – Free-kick for Dundalk is sent in by Shields, only for Hoban to be flagged offside.

 

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

20 – Omoijuanfo has Gartland under pressure but the Dundalk defender does very well to tidy up.

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Dundalk 0-0 Molde

23 – Hussain gets away from Gartland down the left but Gannon is there to obstruct the cross.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

24 – Dundalk have the ball in the net through a Hoban header following a Duffy cross, but the referee’s whistle had already gone for what looked like a very soft foul on Bjørnbak. 

Unfortunate outcome for Dundalk but that was an encouraging passage of play. Duffy and Leahy causing problems on the left.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

25 – The Dundalk players will be raging with that decision when they see the replay. Hoban extremely unlucky.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

30 – Haugen gets in a cross from the left which forces Gannon to concede a corner.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

31 – Eikrem’s delivery is superb but Hoban is there with a fine defensive header to get the ball away.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

32 – Another corner for Molde, this time Mountney denies Haugen.

Dundalk 0-0 Molde

33 – Hoban heads away another Eikrem delivery but it falls to Pedersen who – from about 25 yards out – sees his effort sail narrowly wide with Rogers scrambling. Nervy moment for Dundalk.

GOAL! Dundalk 1-0 Molde (Murray, 35)

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

35 – Dundalk have the lead and it’s Sean Murray again!

After linking up with Gannon down the right, Mountney sent in a brilliant cross and Murray’s header was perfect. Fantastic goal.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

41 – Danger for Dundalk is relieved as Molde are flagged for offside.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

42 – Molde posing problems now as half-time approaches.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

43 – Pedersen tries another one from long range but this one causes no concern for Rogers.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

44 – Yet another Eikrem corner falls to Pedersen, and thankfully for Dundalk he makes a mess of the shot again.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

45 – As we enter the final minute of normal time in the first half, a reminder that a win tonight will boost Dundalk’s coffers to the tune of €570,000 – more than five times what they earned for winning the League of Ireland Premier Division title last season.

 

Half-time: Dundalk 1-0 Molde

 

dundalk-celebrate-their-sideos-first-goal Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

46 – The game has resumed.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

47 – Molde on the attack as Hestad searches for Pedersen with a through ball, but Duffy cuts it out. Shields then heads away a Bolly cross.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

48 – Rogers produces an excellent save to keep out Hussain’s header, although the referee’s whistle had already blown for offside.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

50 – Dundalk need to be on their toes here as there’s a considerable sense of urgency about Molde so far in this second half.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

52 – Duffy links up with Leahy, whose cross from the left is collected by Linde. 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

53 – Leahy blocks a cross from Pedersen. A lot of questions being asked of Dundalk now but they’ve answered them well so far.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

55 – Dundalk living on the edge, they’re under relentless pressure.

Bolly has a shot but fortunately for Dundalk it’s deflected off target by his team-mate Gregersen.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

57 – Rapid Vienna have just gone in front against Arsenal in the other game in this group.

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

58 – Shields fails to clear, allowing Bolly to get in, but Dundalk get away with it as Rogers claims a cross which had the sting taken out of it by Gannon.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

59 – It’s all Molde at the moment. It’s going to be a tough ask for Dundalk to continue to withstand this pressure.

 

Dundalk 1-0 Molde

61 – Dundalk win a free-kick in a good attacking position, Duffy sends it in but it’s cleared by the visitors.

 

GOAL! Dundalk 1-1 Molde (Hussain, 62)

 

Dundalk 1-1 Molde

62 – That was coming. Pedersen gets in a cross from the right and the execution from Hussain on the volley was excellent, although it was aided by a deflection off Gannon.

Patrick McEleney has replaced Greg Sloggett for Dundalk.

Dundalk 1-1 Molde

68 – Molde continue to control the game. They smell blood and Dundalk are on the ropes. Filippo Giovagnoli’s side need to find a second wind from somewhere.

Dundalk 1-1 Molde

71 – Penalty to Molde.

Dundalk 1-1 Molde

71 – Gannon penalised for a foul in the box on substitute Knudtzon.

GOAL! Dundalk 1-2 Molde (Omoijuanfo, 72)

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

72 – Rogers guessed the right way but it was really well placed by Omoijuanfo, who gives Molde the lead.

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

74 – Dundalk preparing to make several changes as they look to turn this game around.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

76 – Fresh legs for Dundalk as Gannon, Murray and Leahy are replaced by David McMillan, Andy Boyle and Cameron Dummigan.

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

77 – Dundalk getting forward a bit more again but struggling to create opportunities. Duffy sees a long-range effort go harmlessly wide.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

80 – Dundalk, who have now gone to three at the back, have brought on Stefan Colovic for Duffy.

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

83 – Molde close to scoring a third but Omoijuanfo pokes the ball over from close range after being teed up by Knudtzon.

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

85 – Patrick McEleney is down injured. He’s in a bit of bother with his left knee.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

86 – It looks like McEleney is okay to continue.

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

86 – Cleary looks to take the game by the scruff of the neck with a great run forward which earns Dundalk a free-kick.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

87 – It comes to nothing but Dundalk continue to search for an equaliser, Molde retreating.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

88 – Molde look to catch Dundalk on the break but Boyle steps in with a vital interception to halt the attack.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

90 – Six additional minutes to be played, still time for Dundalk to salvage something.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

93 – Deep cross from Gartland earns Dundalk a corner.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

93 – Colovic sends it in, it’s headed away and then Mountney’s shot is blocked. Dundalk have a free-kick now in a good position, however, after a foul on Shields.

 

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

95 – Mountney’s delivery finds the head of Cleary but Molde clear the danger.

Dundalk 1-2 Molde

96 – One last chance for Dundalk, Dummigan’s shot is blocked. The ball then falls to Cleary at the back post but Molde hook it clear.

Full-time: Dundalk 1-2 Molde

 

An awful shame for Dundalk as they start with a defeat, having deservedly been in front at half-time. Molde were a completely different side in the second half and made their dominance count.

Next up for Dundalk is a trip to the Emirates Stadium next Thursday to face Arsenal, who also came from behind to record a 2-1 win away to Rapid Vienna.

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