THREE second-half goals gave Molde victory over a battling Larne side at the Aker Stadion last night.
The Inver men made history as they took to the field and, for long spells, they showed that they belonged against their Norwegian hosts.
Tiernan Lynch’s side rarely threatened going forward, but did an impressive job at containing their higher-ranked hosts in the first half
But goals from Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Ola Brynhildsen and Frederik Ihler after the break gave the home side the points, with Larne also losing Conor McKendry to a late red card.
Tiernan Lynch’s came into the game off the back of impressive domestic form, having taken 13 points out of a possible 15 during a busy spell last month. They knew they were up against a formidable opponent who are regulars in the group stages of European football.
Lynch was denied the services of Chris Gallagher and Aaron Donnelly through suspension, while Ryan Nolan isn’t available for their European campaign, having been signed after the Uefa deadline.
The home side were first to threaten on eight minutes when Ola Brynhildsen sliced wide after a ball which caught Larne’s backline and goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson in no-man’s land.
The Inver Park side settled into the game well, however, and were doing a good job at keeping their hosts at bay.
They did give up a chance from a corner on 21 minutes but were relieved to see towering defender Isak Amundsen head wide after finding space inside the box.
Molde’s best move of the first half came on 26 minutes, with Brynhildsen once again threatening.
The attacker, capped four times by Norway, latched on to a searching pass before steering his effort goalwards.
However, Rohan Ferguson got enough of a touch on his effort to allow Shaun Want to clear the ball before it reached the line.
Larne settled into a shape which stifled their home side for the rest of the half, ensuring the game remained goalless at the break.
The home side broke the deadlock within six minutes of the restart, however, through home captain Magnus Wolff Eikrem.
Referee Darius Pel awarded a free-kick against Shaun Want for what looked like a good challenge.
However, from the re-start, Larne were exposed down their left flank, with Kristian Eriksen – who had just come on at half-time – doing well to flight a cross over the outstretched legs of Sam Todd and Wolff Eikrem slamming the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards out.
Molde threatened again just after the hour mark, with Eriksen again the provider from the right, Brynhildsen somewhat slashing at his effort, which sailed well over from 12 yards out.
Wolff Eikrem then brought a good save from Ferguson, with the Scottish goalkeeper at full stretch to tip his effort over the bar.
Larne hopes were extinguished 12 minutes from time when Ola Brynhildsen got the goal his performance deserved, slotting past Ferguson from just inside the box.
Substitute Frederik Ihler hit the post in the dying stages as Larne boss Lynch rang the changes.
Conor McKendry saw red after a wild slash at Mads Enggård, who had sped past him on the right flank before Ihler fired into the net when Larne failed to clear a corner to add gloss for the home side.
