Molde beat HJK 2–1 on aggregate and continues in the Champions League qualification. HJK continues in the Europa League qualification.
HJK fought a fierce defensive battle in the 2nd match of the 2nd qualifying round of the football Champions League against Molde. However, it wasn’t enough until the very end, when Ola Brynhildsen scored a 2–0 goal for the Norwegians in the 89th minute.
HJK had won the first leg 1–0 Topi Keskinen with a hit, so the Norwegians advanced with a combined score of 2–1 to continue in the Champions League qualification. HJK’s games continue in the third qualifying round of the Europa League against Qarabag. The first leg will be played next Thursday, August 10, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The pride of the football city of Molde has played strongly in its home league and has not lost on its home field since April. Molde dominated the first half, but really dangerous situations were few and far between. Especially Erik Breivik got to shoot often.
In the opening period, Molde had 60% possession and 6-1 scoring attempts, but Molde did not have a single shot on goal.
HJK only had a few good attacks, but one of them turned out to be the best scoring chance of the first half. Topi Keskinen was the goalie of the opposing teams by Jacob Karlström with, but drifted into a bit too small an angle and Karlström saved. Keskinen’s shot ended up being HJK’s only shot in the entire match.
In the second half, Molde’s pressure was even stronger. It finally paid off in the 74th minute when Christian Eriksen header after a good cross to the bottom edge of the top bar, where the ball bounced off Jesse I bought through to the finish line.
Before that, Öst had kept Klubi in the next place by making saves, among other things Markus Kaasan shot from the bottom corner wonderfully.
In the last moments, in the 89th minute of the game, Brynhildsen scored the decisive goal after a hard spin. The goal was preceded by Molde’s long spin. Öst blocked Brynhildsen’s first move, but from the second ball the Norwegian was able to easily put the game tool in the net.
The statistics of the match speak harshly about Molde’s control. Attempts to score were marked 16–1 for Molde, and shots on goal 5–1. Molde had 63 percent of the ball.
– Now it hurts a lot. We fought well, but this time it wasn’t enough. It was a tough team, Öst, who played well with the goal, stated.
– A few ok saves. It was a tough game for the whole team, we had to defend almost all the time. They had a lot of the ball and they made a lot of crosses and got dangerous situations out of them.
Öst got a sprain on his shoulder in the first game against Molde, but was now fit to play.
– There is a little pain, but rarely there is no pain.
The loss is the first for HJK Toni Korkeakunnsen under. Although, as a guest of Larne in the 1st qualifying round of the Champions League, HJK lost in regular time, but in terms of total goals, the situation was tied, and then HJK won the follow-up match. In the Veikkausliiga, Korkeakunnas has led HJK to victories over Ilves and SJK.
HJK’s matches continue in the Veikkausliiga on Saturday with a home match against IFK Mariehamn. HJK will play an away match against Qarabag in the Europa League on August 10. and the home match on 17.8.
– Important and tough games are coming. First is the important game against Mariehamn on Saturday, Öst pointed out.
Below you can see the stages of the qualification system. So HJK lost today in the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League and will move to the 3rd qualifying round of the Europa League next week.