SAME MOLDE STORY AS HIBS CRASH OUT
Erling brings Lenny back down to earth with a bump as Euro glory run ends in heartache
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER made his name as a baby-faced assassin – and Molde wonderkid Erling Braut Haland looks like he’ll be just as lethal after killing off Hibs’ Europa League dream. The 18-year-old striker’s two goals and one assist were enough to end the Leith side’s adventure last night to the delight of the Manchester United hero. The only mercy was a third-round exit which was more of a gentle nudge than anything embarrassing. After the Faroes and Greece, Norway proved to be a bridge too far on a night when Hibs fell short. Experience at this level has now been banked but Molde had been in this movie many times before and in the final analysis it more than showed.
Hibs boss Neil Lennon threw caution to the wind with a starting line-up which paired Florian Kamberi and Jamie Maclaren in attack for the first time this season.
On the bench was David Gray who’s arrival to Norway had been delayed by his attendance at the birth of his baby daughter and it was left to Martin Boyle to service the right flank in a withdrawn role.
“In Lennon we trust” has been the mantra from within this squad so, tinkering aside, Hibs set about the challenge of pulling off yet more European heroics against a team with real pedigree at this level.
Solskjaer’s side had Haland leading the attack despite him looking set to seal £10million move to Red Bull Salzburg – a transfer saga which unfortunately for Hibs hadn’t been brought to a close in time to stop them facing a prodigious talent who was key to proceedings.
Adam Bogdan was back between the sticks after a hip injury and his fitness was put to the test in the third minute when he was forced to scramble across the plastic pitch as Eirik Hestad flashed in a cross.
Lennon’s pre-match prediction
that his side would have testing moments aplenty were confirmed again moments later as Efe Ambrose had to slice clear a netbound strike from Pawel Cibicki.
He should have been well known to the Hibs defence as he was part of a Malmo side that racked up a 7-0 win at Easter Road in 2013.
Haland’s first contribution came in 10 minutes and it brought a booking for Ryan Porteous who thundered into a touchline challenge on the teenager.
The striker then dusted himself off to glance a Pawel Cibicki cross inches past in 13 minutes as Hibs were carved open down the left.
Molde’s plan of using the wide areas as points of attack were posing problems as Hibs spent the first 20 minutes trying to plug gaps.
The one bright note had been a Boyle cross from the right which only just evaded the onrushing Kamberi and Maclaren.
Haland’s tag as one of European football’s hottest properties may be well earned but the hotshot fluffed his lines in the 23rd minute by only managing to stick a shin at a low cross to see the ball spin to safety.
Hibs continued to dig in and hit on the counter as Stevie Mallan’s curling 25-yarder had Andreas Linde doing well to gather first time.
Goals haven’t been in short supply for the hosts – with 16 in their last four games – but Hestad passed up a half chance when he failed to connect with Haland’s cross on the half hour.
Lennon’s men continued to live dangerously and would only survive for another four minutes when Ruben Gabrielsen headed Fredrik Aursnes’s cross back across the face of goal and Haland nodded home the opener from a few yards out.
It was a hammer blow which wasn’t helped by Marvin Bartley being helped off the pitch with a pulled hamstring moments later to be replaced by Emerson Hyndman.
Another Mallan effort from distance was pushed clear by Linde as the Leith side attempted to launch an immediate response.
The restart began with Etzaz Hussain swerving a shot wide for a Molde side now looking to deliver the fatal second goal.
Lennon’s half-time briefing would have reminded his side one goal would swing the tie but only Boyle will know why he opted to cross rather than shoot from an angle in the 57th minute.
Molde’s clincher then arrived in the 65th minute and it was Haland who was at the heart of it.
He ran in behind Ambrose before sliding a low cross for Aursnes to prod home from six yards out.
Hibs regrouped and Maclaren spun on to Lewis Stevenson’s pass to crack a shot off the post in 71 minutes.
But it was over eight minutes from time when Paul Hanlon deflected a shot into Haland’s path and the youngster poked him to complete a stunning double.
Nothing that happened in Norway should detract from the sense of history created by Hibs in recent weeks after treating their fans to three European nights at Easter Road for the first time since a CupWinners’ Cup run in season 1972-73.
Still, that may be cold comfort for a 500-strong support who faced £10 a pint to drown their sorrows.