The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rangers advance but Hibs bow out of Europa League
Hibs came unstuck against Molde as young sensation Erling Braut Haaland sent Neil Lennon’s side crashing out of the Europa League.
The son of former Leeds player Alf-Inge Haaland missed the goalless first leg in the third qualifying round to hold talks with Salzburg, but the 18-year-old returned with a vengeance to score twice and set up another as Hibs lost 3-0 in Norway.
Haaland, who has been watched by Manchester United, headed home from close range in the 35th minute after Efe Ambrose had been caught underneath a deep free-kick.
He then set up Fredrik Aursnes to net in the 66th minute and seal the 3-0 aggregate win with another close-range finish eight minutes from time after Hibs’ Jamie Maclaren had been denied by a post.
Hibs were ultimately outclassed by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s slick outfit, who looked a completely different side from the one which toiled in Edinburgh last week.
Molde will take their place in the play-off round, while Lennon’s men will turn their attention to domestic matters, starting with the visit of Ross County on Sunday.
Lennon bemoaned his side’s failure to take their chances.
The Hibs head coach told BBC Radio Scotland: “I think the scoreline definitely flatters Molde.
“After half-time we looked in the ascendancy and missed a couple of great chances to take the tie to 1-1 and that would have changed the complexion completely.
“We lacked a little bit of experience at times but I’m very, very proud of the players and what they gave me.
“We just lacked that little bit of oomph. The difference in the teams was Haaland.”
Hibs were roared on by around 600 travelling fans, and were left to rue the missed chances.
Martin Boyle came close to equalising and Maclaren struck a post with a header at 2-0 after meeting a Lewis Stevenson cut-back as Hibs tried to keep their dream alive.