– I cheered. Simply!
That’s what Trønder, Viking player and NRK expert Kristoffer Løkberg says after watching Veton Berisha, Fredrik Gulbrandsen and Molde counter with a strong 2-1 victory at home against Club Brugge in the round of 16 in the league.
VERDICT: Fredrik Gulbrandsen eventually became the big hero for Molde.
Photo: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / NTB
Thursday evening was a real rollercoaster for Molde. They led 1–0 at half-time thanks to Halldor Stenevik, held on to the lead for much of the second half, but just minutes before full-time they conceded a penalty.
It set Maxim De Cuyper up for sure, and the vast majority agreed that 1–1 was a bad starting point for Erling Moe & co.
Løkberg thought so too.
– At 1-1, I thought that Bruges were pretty clear favorites to progress. But now it will be quite open.
– From the top shelf
Because in overtime, Molde countered with the winning goal. Brugge sent many players into attack in search of the winning goal, but instead got one in the fleece. Mats Møller Dæhli found Veton Berisha, who freed Fredrik Gulbrandsen.
Alone with the goalkeeper, Molde’s number nine made no mistakes – and ensured wild cheers at Aker Stadion.
Photo: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / NTB
– Fortunately, the goalkeeper didn’t come out, and so I was able to run it up and set it. It was a very good ball from Veton who sees me there, so it was brilliant, says match winner Fredrik Gulbrandsen to NRK.
That score tasted good, says Molde coach Erling Moe.
– I am of course very happy. It was a tough battle and we are facing a good team. We don’t play our best game with the ball, so when they get 1-1 you are of course very happy when we put it at the end. Showing that perseverance and will now at the beginning of March is a sign of strength, he says to NRK.
He also took the time to pay tribute to Gulbrandsen, who now has five goals in his last three games in the league.
– It doesn’t look like it will end for Fredrik. It’s not like ketchup splashes either, it’s the whole bottle. In the game he is very strong. We just have to work to keep it flowing, he says.
NRK’s experts were beside themselves with excitement when Gulbrandsen found the net masks in overtime.
– It’s fantastic transition play and a fantastic finish by Fredrik, exclaimed Åge Hareide on NRK’s radio broadcast, and Løkberg agrees:
– It was a fantastic counter-attack, so then and there I admired that pattern attack. One thing is the touch and the finish, which is fantastic, but also what Mats Møller Dæhli does first and Veton, who has both the energy, composure and overview to find a team-mate. A class attack from the top shelf. And it is not least an important victory for Norwegian football, he says.
MATCH WINNER: Fredrik Gulbrandsen and Kristian Eriksen celebrate the former’s decisive goal.
Photo: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / NTB
– Will never be happy in Molde, but…
The European adventure continues for Molde. In the previous round, they crushed Legia Warsaw. Now they have got an excellent starting point against the big Belgian club Club Brugge.
– It was again proof that Molde can match top teams from other nations, from other places in Europe. And Belgium is not a bad football nation, points out Hareide, who actually tipped Molde 2-1 before the start of the match.
Kristoffer Løkberg emphasizes very clearly to NRK that he will never be happy in Molde, but there was a reason why he rejoiced over Gulbrandsen’s 2-1 goal.
IMPRESSED: Kristoffer Løkberg.
Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB
Thursday’s victory and other results around Europe meant that Norway climbed the club coefficient ranking of the European Football Association.
This could result in more Norwegian teams out in Europe. Norway is now, thanks to Molde’s victory, ahead of Denmark in the ranking. The Danes have no team left in Europe, after FC Copenhagen was knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Other clubs and countries can still put sticks in the wheels for Norway, but if Norway retains the 14th place they currently have, that will give five Norwegian clubs in Europe: Two in the Champions League, one in the Europa League and two in the Serie A from 2025/ The 26 season.
– There is a long discussion about cheering on the others in Europe, but the chance increases to get a real European Cup place when there is now an extra one for Norway. There are several clubs that can benefit from what Molde did tonight and what Glimt has done in recent years. You just have to take off your hat for that, says Løkberg.
He emphasizes one more time, just to be on the safe side:
– I will never be happy in Molde with the dialect I have, but I enjoy myself and am happy when I see Norwegian teams in Europe.
But it seemed that there wouldn’t be much to enjoy or be happy about.
– Enormous pressure
Former Bodø/Glimt player Philip Zinckernagel’s cross in the 82nd minute went straight into the arm of Molde captain Martin Linnes, and from the penalty spot Maxim De Cuyper was safe.
PRESSURE ON YOURSELF: Ronny Deila, here with captain Hans Vanaken.
Photo: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / NTB
1-1 would have been a terribly difficult starting point to take to the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium, but thanks to the counterattack in overtime, Molde take 2-1 to what will be a tough away game.
Club Brugge has been a fixture in the Champions League in recent years, and last season they progressed from a very tough group with Porto, Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid. Then they beat both Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid at home.
Now they need another big evening at home at Jan Breydel.
– It’s a tough away arena to get to. It’s a good team, says Løkberg
But the pressure is primarily on Deila and his men, according to Hareide.
ALSO IMPRESSED: Åge Hareide.
Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB
– Brugge is a big club in Belgium that is used to winning. Losing against a Norwegian team is not a good thing for either Brugge or Ronny, emphasizes Hareide on NRK Radio, and continues:
– Bruges have enormous pressure on them at home. They are used to going far in Europe and they are used to winning at home. All the pressure is on Ronny Deila and Brugge before the return leg. Then Molde can base its tactics on that, says Hareide.
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