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| Cup Win puts Molde in Final 16... |
Friday 27th June 2014. 19:30. The Xpert Arena.
Molde FK took to the famed grasses of neutral territory to face No 99 seeds Real Lion. Al Reddy had the whistle and, as usual, the cards. Two full strength line ups signalled both managers' intent. A place in the last 16 was at stake; a place Molde had only occupied once and a place never obtained by Real Lion.
The game began with Lion forward Laure getting stuck right in. A challenege on Idermark resulted in Laure going into Al Reddys book on '3 and Idermark limping. Struggling to run it off, space was created for Klemens Oraham to burst through from Laures through ball and send Lion 1-0 up. Molde began to settle however, and Nordraak's frustration saw him join Laure in the refs book earning a yellow on '50.
On '59, the tide began to turn in Molde's favour, M'Bami found Soderqvist lurking on the edge of the penalty area when all were expecting an inswinger, and the point-magician made no mistake drawing level to 1-1.
Spurred on M'Bami, in another MOTM performance, turned goalscorer with a thumping bullet header from Hofstede's clever cross. 2-1 down with 20 to go Real Lion changed the ineffective Sundqvist for Paixao, and made a couple more changes later (Ross '80, Radojicic '85) as they searched for that elusive equaliser to take the game to penalties.
On '87 Molde midfielder Gundar Stenman raised the roof of the Xpert Arena, he was slipped through at the halfway line by Etoo and charged the length of the pitch to slot a comprehensive winner past aging veteran keeper Riesgo. 3-1 Molde, and into the last 16.
We spoke to manager BFM after the game.
XD: Well, BFM - what are your thoughts after that?
"What a match," gushed BFM,"I'm just delighted for the lads, they worked so hard. It was a difficult start for them, I thought we'd lost Idermark and Ken Norman would have to blow off the cobwebs and suit up but he soldiered on. I kept him on the pitch and might have cost them the 1st goal with that decision. But they fought back comprehensively. Salomon Etoo struggled to get into the game with the marking job they did on him, but the rest of the midfield fortunately coped in his absence. I'm really delighted".
XD: The last 16 have been drawn BFM - you got No 2 seeds Le Smurfs!
"Yeah I'm going to have to get my thinking cap on for that one! They're 16 skill all through the midfield, that's way over what we have. Even with Pineda injured their backline is formidable. It might just shape the way they line up though. I'm delighted for the fans, that'll be a top drawer game of football."
XD: Do you think you have what it takes to win, BFM?
"Well Jeff, footballs a funny old game, innit? It's a game of two halves and if the players can give me 110% then at the end of the game the team who scores the most goals goes through to the next round."
XD: Thanks BFM & Good Luck
"Thanks Jeff"
Rumour has it Warren Peace has been lined up to officiate over the last 16 tie between favourites & No 2 seeds Le Smurfs and minnows & lowest (277) seeds Molde FK.
Everybody loves an underdog though, right?
Until next time footie fans...
XD
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