Europa League: Dundalk equal record with defeat by Molde
- Published
Ohi Omoijuanfo heads in Molde's second goal against Molde at the Aker Stadion
Dundalk equalled the Europa League record of five straight defeats in the group stage as the League of Ireland side lost 3-1 to Molde in Norway.
It comes four days after Dundalk beat Athlone 11-0 to set a record for the biggest win in FAI Cup history.
Headed finishes from Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Ohi Omoijuanfo gave Molde a 2-0 half-time lead in a one-sided game.
Martin Ellingsen headed in the third before a superb consolation strike from Jordan Flores in added time.
Dundalk boss Filippo Giovagnoli was banned from the Aker Stadion dugout and club fined £45,000 by Uefa because he does not have the relevant qualification to be involved at European level.
The visitors, with their qualification hopes over after four defeats, rested a number of key players ahead of the FAI Cup final this weekend and they rarely threatened as Molde dominated throughout.
Deserved opener
It was only a matter of time before Molde made the breakthrough and it came on 30 minutes as an unmarked Eikrem headed in at the nearpost from Birk Risa's cross.
The second goal came from another Risa cross from the left - this time it was met at the backpost by Omoijuanto and the striker headed across keep Gary Rogers into the bottom corner.
Dundalk boss Filippo Giovagnoli was forced to watch the game from the stands at the Aker Stadion
Dundalk's only first-half chance came just before the break with Flores going through on the left but he fired just over.
There was a lucky escape for Dundalk after 57 minutes when Sheriff Sinyan managed to miss from a yard out after Rogers parried a Omoijuanfo header.
But the third arrived 10 minutes later as Ellingsen headed down at the backpost from a corner with the ball going through the legs of Rogers before going in.
Molde pressed for a fourth and Mathis Bolly clipped the Dundalk woodwork before Flores had the final say by arrowing into the top corner from 25 yards.