Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of reaching the Europa Conference League last 16 were crushed after 10-man Molde won a 5-4 penalty shootout to advance after the game finished 1-1 on aggregate following the Norwegians’ 1-0 win.
Rovers were hoping to become the first League of Ireland club to reach the last 16 of a UEFA competition, but a mistake under difficult windy conditions allowed Magnus Wolff Eikrem to net a 10th-minute opener and draw the sides level 1-1 on aggregate.
Molde were left shorthanded after Isak Amundsen was sent off with a second yellow card in second half stoppage time.
But Rovers failed to capitalise on the man advantage and the single goal they required still eluded them after extra time.
The hosts conceded after miscommunication led to no one dealing with a long ball over the top – perhaps also misread due to the windy conditions – allowing it to bounce dangerously towards Rovers keeper Edward McGinty, who came off his line to punch it away.
But the ball only made it as far as Eikrem who drilled in the opener, which stood after a VAR check.
Rovers wanted a penalty when Aaron McEneff was through on goal and tumbled over Jacob Karlstrom, who had come out, but his effort continued to trickle towards the goal-line, where it was hooked away by Martin Linnes.
There was a pause to check VAR, but the referee was ultimately not directed toward the screens and nothing was given.
The hosts again shouted when Michael Noonan was brought down under pressure, but their protests were dismissed.
Molde were down to 10 men in the third minute of stoppage time when Amundsen, previously booked for an earlier foul on Noonan, dragged down McEneff and was sent off with a second yellow card.
Rovers were committing bodies into Molde’s penalty area and won two early extra-time corners, while McGinty stooped to save a later effort from Molde substitute Daniel Daga.
The hosts failed to take advantage of numerous set plays and their man advantage, so it all came down to penalties.
Rovers substitute Aaron Greene missed to open the door for Molde, who secured passage to the last 16 when Eirik Hestad converted to make it a perfect five from five.
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield was lost for words after his side enjoyed a 90th-minute 1-0 victory against Coventry that kept their hopes of staying in the Championship alive.It looked like the Hatters were going to be held to a frustrating stalemate, as they had initially been playing against 10 men when Jay Dasilva was sent off on 12 minutes.Town midfielder Liam Walsh was also shown red midway throu...
Noel Hunt is excited for Reading’s last game of the Sky Bet League One season with the Royals remaining in the mix for a play-off place.Hunt’s team have lost only once in their last eight games on the road and they weathered a storm at the Memorial Stadium to eventually see off Bristol Rovers 2-0 and stay in the chase for the top six.Reading will try to leapfrog Leyton Orient in the ta...
Burnley boss Scott Parker never doubted his players would maintain their intensity despite promotion having already been achieved.The Clarets emphatically boosted their Sky Bet Championship title hopes by hammering QPR 5-0 in their penultimate match of the season.It moved them to the top of the table, three points ahead of Leeds, although the Yorkshire side, who are at home to Bristol City on Mond...
Darren Moore could not hide his pride at steering Port Vale back into League One following a 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.Two second-half goals from Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Headley sealed an immediate return to the third tier for the Vale Park outfit.As players and fans alike celebrated in the away end, Moore reflected on the achievement – and admitted his focus in this match was on gaining...
Richie Wellens felt the overall display from his Leyton Orient team was excellent in their 1-0 victory over Wycombe.Orient took another step towards the play-offs after Randell Williams’ second-half header proved the difference at Brisbane Road.It was Orient’s fifth successive win and they now travel to Huddersfield next Saturday knowing that, with their superior goal difference, they ...
Notts County all-but guaranteed their place in the League Two play-offs courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Harrogate.The Magpies ended their four-match winless run thanks to Conor Grant’s second-half brace, leaving them fifth in the table and six points clear of eighth-placed Colchester.County took the lead in the 33rd minute when George Abbott fired home after David McGoldrick’s initial eff...
Luton climbed out of the Championship bottom three for the first time since January thanks to Shandon Baptiste’s 90th-minute goal as they beat play-off chasing Coventry 1-0.The Hatters looked like they would go to West Brom next weekend with their destiny definitely out of their own hands, only for Baptiste, who had been on the field for just 11 minutes, to find the net and lift the roof off...
Leyton Orient remain on course for the Sky Bet League One play-offs after a 1-0 win which dented Wycombe’s hopes of automatic promotion.Randell Williams scored the only goal of the game and Orient’s victory, their fifth in succession, leaves them ahead of seventh-placed Reading on goal difference.Defeat for the Chairboys, though, has handed the initiative to Wrexham, who could seal the...
Doncaster clinched promotion to League One after goals from Rob Street and Billy Sharp secured a 2-1 win over 10-man Yorkshire rivals Bradford.In an incident-packed encounter in front of over 12,500 fans – the Eco-Power Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season – Doncaster hit the post through Jordan Gibson before on-loan Lincoln striker Street gave Rovers a 33rd-minute lead with his...
Reading’s hunt for a Sky Bet League One play-off spot will go to the final day of the season after the Royals beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.Lewis Wing’s eighth league goal of the season after 67 minutes and Chem Campbell’s added-time effort leaves the Pirates staring at relegation after Noel Hunt’s side had to survive a first-half onslaught from the hosts....
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola fumes over point claimed at 10-man Crystal Palace
- 10 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest