Molde FK beat Legia Warszawa 3–2 in the first match at home in the 16th round of the series league. Fredrik Gulbrandsen scored two goals, against the club he was sent off against in his Molde debut 11 years ago. The home team was the best in most of the first half on the cool artificial grass at Aker Stadion, and led 3–0 at the break. Markus André Kaasa scored the third goal for the blue shirts. In the second half, the Polish big team responded when Molde dropped a couple of notches. With two goals to Legia, it will be a demanding task for MFK in the return next Thursday. Center stopper Andreas Hagelskjær given up after new Legia reduction. Photo: NTB Gulbrandsen revenge It was the summer of 2013 that Molde met Legia Warszawa in the Meisterliga qualifiers. Fredrik Gulbrandsen had a terrible start to his Molde career when he was sent off after two yellow cards. The last came after he hit his arm in despair, after an incorrect wave for offside. Since then, he lifted several trophies for MFK, before the trip went to both Salzburg, New York and Turkey. In the autumn, Gulbrandsen was back in the Molde jersey, and quickly distinguished himself by deciding the cup final against Bodø/Glimt. Today he sent the Romsdal team one step closer to the round of 16 in the league. It happened for a Molde that had three out of five centre-backs out with injury. For a long time it looked like a huge party for the Molde players. Photo: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / NTB Dæhli back in Europe Molde made it to the league after finishing third in the Europa League group stage, in a group with impressive Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag and Häcken. The match was also a comeback for Mats Møller Dæhli, both for Molde and in European football. In recent years, he has played in English, German and Belgian football, but has not been able to experience the European Cup for over ten years. United talent Mats Møller Dæhli played 15 games for Molde FK, before Solskjær took him with him in his luggage to Cardiff. He won the cup final against RBK in 2013. Photo: Vegard Grøtt / NTB Dæhli was also there (on the bench) when Molde met Legia Warsaw in 2013. – I remember it very well, I remember the fans especially. It was a crazy print, and it really impressed me. So I know it’s a big club we meet, said the midfielder before the match. – What significance did Europe have for the choice you made when you returned to Molde? – It is clear that it was part of the election. I know that there are opportunities to do well in the secret league and qualify for Europe. Knockout round in the Conference League is great fun, said Dæhli. Unfortunately, he had to go out with what looked like an injury on the eve of the match. The stands were less than half full. Photo: Roar Jonny Strøm / news Little extras Flaumlys and the European Cup should entice most people, but there was something missing in the stands at Aker Stadion. Several news spoke pointing to high ticket prices, of NOK 400-500 for a winter evening outside the Norwegian season. It was also demanding for supporters due to sanctions against Legia. The Molde fans had to show ID to let in, as UEFA refused the Polish away fans entry. The reason was a violent clash with the police when Legia met Aston Villa away in November. It was still clear that over a hundred Legia fans had got in, and a banner with Legia Ultras fluttered under the big screen. Photo: Roar Jonny Strøm / news Glissent is unlikely to be in the return match. Legia Warszawa has already sold out the Wojska Polskiego stadium, which takes as much as 31,800 additional dollars. The “Ultras” stand in the Polish capital will then be filled with children under the age of 14, just like when MFK met Partizan in Belgrade in 2019.
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Molde FK 3–2 against Legia Warsaw in the round of 16 of the Conference League goals by Fredrik Gulbrandsen – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
