Haland shows Hibs no mercy as he turns on a masterclass
ON an unforgiving night in Norway, Hibs once again found themselves cast as victims in a Nordic Noir drama.
Their Europa League demise in the picturesque fjord city of Molde was down to the killer instincts of £9million-rated striker Erling Braut Haland.
The deadly 18-year-old assassin plunged the knife in with the first goal, then twisted it twice more with an assist and a second strike.
The devastating contribution of this rising star of Norwegian football ensured that Hibs’ last three European campaigns have all ended in this northern corner of the continent.
Brutalised 9-0 on aggregate by Swedes Malmo in 2013 — still a record loss for a Scottish club in Europe — Hibs lost on penalty kicks to Danish side Brondby in 2016.
The son of former Leeds United defender Alfe Inge, teenage forward Haland had missed the goalless first leg at Easter Road as he was in talks over a big-money move to RB Salzburg. And here he showed exactly what all the fuss was about as his star turn sent Hibs spinning out.
There was no doubt the better side progressed last night but the men from Leith will perhaps feel that 3-0 was not a fair reflection on the overall contest.
Indeed, Neil Lennon’s team were left wondering what might have been when Martin Boyle had two decent chances to grab a potentially priceless away goal with the score at 1-0 in the second half.
His poor decision-making meant his side were unable to secure a fourth round of European football in one season for the first time in their 143-year history.
Victories over NSI Runavik and Greek side Asteras Tripolis meant that Hibs had already witnessed three European nights in the same campaign for the first time since 1972-73.
But this was ultimately a step too far on a night Lennon sent out a bold and positive side, pairing strikers Jamie Maclaren and Flo Kamberi from the start for the first time this season. That saw Boyle move from the role as a striker that he occupied in the first leg in Edinburgh to right wing-back.
Lennon also welcomed back goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, whose performance against Asteras Tripolis in Greece played such a huge role in Hibs making it this far.
Club captain David Gray was late arriving in Norway after the birth of baby daughter, Ada, and took his place on the bench.
Molde went into the match bolstered by beating league leaders Brann Bergen 5-1 here on Sunday. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were in free-scoring form at Aker Stadion, with 16 goals in their last four home games.
And in a storming start, they were first to threaten when Eirik Hestad’s low centre in from the left was too quick for Haland to make a connection.
Pawel Cibicki, who played for Malmo in their rout of Hibs in 2013, saw a fierce 20-yard shot blocked by the head of Efe Ambrose.
Ryan Porteous then entered the book for a thumping tackle on Haland, who shoved the young Scot in retaliation.
Moments later, the dangerous Haland headed a fraction wide after a fine left-wing delivery from Cibicki.
Hibs were looking dangerous themselves and, after Paul Hanlon won the ball in midfield, Boyle sent in a cross that just evaded Maclaren and Kamberi.
Kamberi then sent a fierce ball over that Maclaren could not reach. Stevie Mallan was next to try his luck but his curling 20-yard shot was held by Andreas Linde.
Haland was proving a handful for young Porteous and it was no surprise when he gave Molde the lead ten minutes before the break.
Captain Ruben Gabrielsen rose to head a free-kick from Fredrik Aursnes back across goal and Haland rose highest to head beyond Bogdan.
There was a further blow for Hibs when midfielder Marvin Bartley pulled up injured. On came Emerson Hyndman.
As the first half drew to a close, Mallan saw a speculative effort saved by Linde.
But then in the second half came two Sliding Door moments Hibs would be left to rue. First, Maclaren broke free down the left before his low cross evaded Molde keeper Linde and rolled into the path of Boyle.
With the goal gaping, the winger elected to square the ball rather than try to direct it into the net from an acute angle. The ball was gleefully hacked to safety, and with it the chance of a precious away goal was gone.
Mallan then lifted his head up and played an exquisite, dinked ball over the Molde defence and into the path of the scampering Boyle. But this time the winger snatched at the chance and fired over the bar.
Before kick-off, Lennon had challenged Boyle to prove he is good enough to make the step up to the international stage. He has enjoyed a storming start to the new season but this was not to be the 25-year-old’s night.
With 24 minutes left on the clock, Haland used his brute strength to get in behind the Hibs defence and his touch took the ball past Bogdan. That left Aursnes with a tap-in and he duly bundled the ball home from close range.
Hibs came close to scoring as Ambrose’s cross was knocked back across goal by Lewis Stevenson. But Maclaren’s shot hit the base of the post and was cleared.
Haland then got his second of the night when Hanlon deflected the ball into his path and the impressive striker greedily tucked it away.
At the end, the Molde supporters danced and clapped as they held their very own fjord fiesta to celebrate their deserved progress to the play-off round.
For Hibs, the European adventure is over and atention now turns back to domestic affairs when Ross County visit Easter Road in the Betfred Cup on Sunday.