Celtic slip to 3-1 defeat at Molde
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Updated 22/10/2015 at 22:05 GMT
Europa League Group A, Aker Stadion, Molde – Molde 3 (Kamara 11, Forren 18, Elyounoussi 56) Celtic 1 (Commons 55)
Vegard Forren (R) celebrates scoring the second goal for Molde
Image credit: Reuters
Celtic slipped to a damaging first defeat in the Europa League after suffering a 3-1 loss to Molde under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ola Kamara fired the Norwegians into an 11th-minute lead, beating Craig Gordon at his near post before Vegard Forren volleyed home to put Molde further ahead at the break.
Chris Commons gave the visitors hope by pulling a goal back but Celtic switched off immediately and Mohamed Elyounoussi scored less than a minute later.
The result means that Molde top Group A with seven points from three matches played. Celtic are tied with Ajax on two points behind Fenerbahce, after the Dutch conceded a late goal in Istanbul.
It means that Celtic will almost certainly need to win two of their remaining three matches, although two of those will come at home.
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Vegard Forren scores the second goal for Molde
Image credit: Reuters
KEY MOMENTS
11’ – GOAL! Molde 1-0 Celtic: Kamara who latches onto a perfect cross-field ball from Elyounoussi to slot home at the near post. Lovely finish but perhaps Gordon will be disappointed to be beaten on his near post.
18’ – GOAL! Molde 2-0 Celtic: Forren latches onto a cross from Toivio to volley into the ground and past Gordon into the far corner.
44’ – GORDON SAVE: The Celtic keeper tips over the bar from Elyounoussi’s cross come shot.
55’ – GOAL! Molde 2-1 Celtic: Chris Commons latches onto a loose ball from Linnes to finish calmly past Horvath.
56’ – GOAL! Molde 3-1 Celtic: Just seconds after Commons had thrown Celtic a lifeline, Elyounoussi volleys home at the far post from a Mostrom cross.
63’ – CHANCE MOLDE: Linnes crosses for Kamara, who heads wide. Any good contact and he will score.
72’ – CHANCE MOLDE: Kamara is through on goal with just Gordon to beat but plants it wide of the far post. Boyata caught ball watching.
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Molde's goalkeeper Ethan Horvath (lower L), Daniel Berg Hestad (top L), and Vegard Forren (2nd L) try to block Celtics' Leigh Griffiths (9) during their Europa League Group A soccer match at Aker Stadium in Molde, Norway October 22, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
Celtic have now shipped in two goals in each of their last five European games.
The clubs met for the first time in UEFA competition.
Celtic's record in four games against Norwegian teams is now W3 D0 L2 (W1 D0 L2 in Norway).
TALKING POINT
What was Ronny Deila thinking? Chris Commons was comfortably Celtic’s best player and looked the one man who could get them back in the game. It seemed an inexplicable decision to substitute him with a quarter of an hour remaining and he let his manager know about it.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Molde): A nightmare all evening for the Celtic defence and created numerous chances before putting the game beyond doubt.
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Mohammed Elyounoussi celebrates scoring the third goal for Molde
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Molde: Horvath 6, Linnes 7, Rindaroy 6, Forren 7, Toivio 7, D. Hestad 7, Singh 6, Hussain 7, Mostrom 6, Kamara 7, Elyounoussi 8. SUBS: Flo 6, E. Hestad 6, Bakenga 6.
Celtic: Gordon 5; Lustig 6, Ambrose 5, Boyata 5, Izaguirre 5; Brown 6, Bitton 7; Commons 7, Johansen 6, Armstrong 6; Griffiths 6. Subs: Ciftci 6, Mackay-Steven 6.
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