2015-10-22, Molde 3-1 Celtic, UEFA Cup

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Celtic scorer: Commons 55′
by
STEPHEN HALLIDAY

published 22:56 Thursday 22 October 2015
RONNY Deila endured a miserable return to Norway as his credibility as Celtic manager suffered another painful blow on the European stage.

On a night when the defensive performance of his team was as wretched as the wet and windy weather which enveloped the Aker Stadium, Deila saw his hopes of Europa League progress significantly undermined with a comprehensive defeat by Molde.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed the perfect start to his second spell in charge of the Norwegian champions, it is a result which raises fresh doubt over Deila’s ability to give Celtic the status and results they crave at this level.

His team have now leaked an eye-watering 35 goals in 23 European games since he took charge and their vulnerability at the back has simply not been properly addressed.

They trailed 2-0 here midway through the first half and even the lifeline of a Kris Commons goal early in the second half was not grasped as they quickly conceded a third. There was acrimony too for Celtic, Commons responding with very public fury when he was substituted with 14 minutes remaining.

There had initially been no hint of the setbacks which would befall Celtic in the shape of the hosts’ two goals inside the first 20 minutes which put Solskjaer firmly on course for the happiest of homecomings.

If anything, it was the visitors who looked to have adapted better to the treacherously wet conditions which caused spray to fly up from the synthetic pitch with every pass and move.

A swirling wind simply added to the degree of difficulty in producing any cohesive football but a relatively encouraging start by Celtic saw them carve out a decent chance in the third minute, Commons and Stuart Armstrong combining sharply to set up Leigh Griffiths whose close-range effort was blocked.

But that early promise quickly evaporated as Molde stunned Deila’s men with their quickfire double salvo. The 11th-minute opener stemmed from an inexcusably wayward pass from Dedryck Boyata, not the first time the central defender has been guilty of such an aberration in his debut season at Celtic.

He steered the ball straight into the path of Mohamed Elyounoussi who promptly surged forward and played a perfectly weighted pass to Ola Kamara who had found space on the right of the Celtic penalty area.

The striker had time to steady himself and drill a firm, low shot beyond Craig Gordon who was surprisingly beaten at his near post.

The goal provided Molde with a measure of impetus which saw them double their advantage just seven minutes later. It was another goal which exposed Celtic’s consistent inability to observe the basics of defending at European level.

They were unable to clear a corner swept in from the left by Joona Toivio, the ball simply finding its way back to the feet of Molde’s Finnish international. Toivio sent it back across the penalty area where Vegard Forren had been left unmarked by the flat-footed Celtic players.

Forren struck his left foot volley down into the increasingly sodden surface and saw the ball loop beyond Gordon’s despairing right hand and into the corner of the net.

Celtic were unable to find any fluency or bring any conviction to their efforts at a response, with Molde goalkeeper Ervan Horvath not forced into a single save in the first half.

But for a smart stop by Gordon when he turned Elyounoussi’s dipping shot over just before the interval, it could have been even worse for Deila’s side.

They were handed a route back into the contest 10 minutes into the second half by a defensive error from Molde’s Martin Linnes which mirrored the one perpetrated by Boyata in the first half.

Under no great pressure, Linnes sent a pass from the back directly into the path of Commons. The Celtic playmaker reacted eagerly and showed typical composure to loft a smooth finish beyond Horvath from around 12 yards.

It should have been the ideal platform from which Celtic could salvage the situation but instead they switched off fatally at the back again as Molde restored their two-goal advantage immediately from the restart.

Mattias Mostrom was able to gallop into space down the right and his cross found its way to the unmarked Elyounoussi at the far post. His firmly-struck close-range shot slithered under Gordon and into the net.

Kamara should have added to Celtic’s misery when he wastefully sent a free header wide from around eight yards as Molde continued to carry far greater threat in attack.

An evening which had gone horribly wrong for Celtic took another unhappy turn when Commons reacted furiously to being replaced by Nadir Ciftci. As he remonstrated with the bench, the travelling fans also gave vent to their anger as they jeered the substitution. Bitton struck the bar from distance but Celtic were very much second best as they fell to the bottom of Group A.

SCORERS: Molde – Kamara (11), Forren (18), Elyounoussi (56); Celtic – Commons (55)

Referee: V Bezborodov (Rus)

In atrocious conditions, Dedryck Boyata's slack pass paved the way for Ola Kamara to secure an early lead.

That was followed by a second from Vegard Forren on 18 minutes, which put the Norwegian champions in command.

Kris Commons reduced the deficit after the break, but Mohamed Elyounoussi soon restored the two-goal advantage.

It means Celtic trail Molde by five points before their return match at Celtic Park in two weeks' time.

They and Ajax sit on two points, two behind Fenerbahce following the Turks' 1-0 victory over the Dutch in Istanbul.

Defensive frailties
Celtic's Kris Commons shows his disappointment at being substituted Celtic midfielder Kris Commons shows his anger at being substituted

Celtic have been undone by slack defensive play and questionable goalkeeping on more than one occasion this season and both were in evidence again.

Boyata gifted possession to Elyounoussi for the first goal and Craig Gordon looked cumbersome as he tried to keep out Kamara's near-post shot.

Molde centre-half Joona Toivio was allowed to cross for his defensive partner Forren to volley unchallenged past Gordon for the second.

And it was too easy for Molde to open up the visitors' defence for a third when Celtic should have been revitalised having just got back into the game.

Molde could have added more in the second half as Kamara – Deila's former protege at Stromsgodset – twice passed up excellent opportunities and Gordon saved well from Etzaz Hussain.

Nir Bitton almost made the scoreline more respectable with a late shot off the bar, but that would have been an unfair reflection of Molde's dominance.

An unhappy homecoming
Molde head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shelters from the rain Molde head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was all but singing in the rain against Celtic

Ronny Deila had played down the significance of his own return to Norway, stressing merely his constant desire to win football matches.

Yet it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who was able to celebrate a winning return to Norwegian football.

The reappointed Molde head coach – a local hero already in these parts – may not have been back in charge long enough to take great credit for any tactical masterstrokes, but his side outfought and out-thought Celtic.

After a tentative start, they bossed the game and have given themselves an excellent chance of progressing in the competition.

There was tension in the visiting ranks as Commons was taken off despite being one of the few Celtic players to offer a threat.

The forward directed his anger at the Celtic bench as the supporters sang his name.

It is one of a number of issues that need to be addressed if Celtic are to turn this European campaign around.

Stats you need to know
•The Bhoys have kept one clean sheet in their last 18 Europa League games, conceding 32 goals in a run stretching back to December 2009.
•Celtic have now let in two or more goals in each of their last five European games (including qualifiers).
•There were 47 seconds between Commons' goal for Celtic and Elyounoussi's for Molde.

Live Text Commentary
Full time Full Time
Match ends, Molde 3, Celtic 1.
90:00 +4:07 Full time Full Time
Second Half ends, Molde 3, Celtic 1.
90:00 +3:39 Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90:00 +3:39 Foul by Eirik Hestad (Molde).
90:00 +3:11 Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Gary Mackay-Steven.
90:00 +2:42 Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +2:42 Foul by Mushaga Bakenga (Molde).
90:00 +0:31 Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
89:16 Attempt missed. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mikael Lustig with a cross.
88:46 Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:46 Foul by Mushaga Bakenga (Molde).
87:18 Nir Bitton (Celtic) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box.
84:05 Attempt missed. Per Egil Flo (Molde) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Eirik Hestad with a cross following a corner.
83:48 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Molde. Mushaga Bakenga replaces Mohammed Elyounoussi.
83:05 Corner, Molde. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
83:03 Attempt saved. Etzaz Hussain (Molde) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohammed Elyounoussi.
82:11 Attempt missed. Vegard Forren (Molde) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Joona Toivio with a cross following a set piece situation.
81:27 Booking Booking
Efe Ambrose (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81:23 Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).
81:23 Martin Linnes (Molde) wins a free kick on the right wing.
.78:20 Attempt saved. Eirik Hestad (Molde) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mohammed Elyounoussi.
75:46 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Nadir Ciftci replaces Kris Commons.
73:50 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Gary Mackay-Steven replaces Stuart Armstrong.
73:24 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Molde. Eirik Hestad replaces Ola Kamara.
70:28 Attempt missed. Ola Kamara (Molde) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Harmeet Singh.
68:10 Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
68:10 Foul by Daniel Hestad (Molde).
67:39 Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
67:39 Mohammed Elyounoussi (Molde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
66:08 Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Brown.
65:52 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joona Toivio.
65:23 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vegard Forren.
65:22 Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mikael Lustig.
62:32 Attempt missed. Ola Kamara (Molde) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Martin Linnes with a cross.
58:54 Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
58:54 Etzaz Hussain (Molde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
58:04 Offside, Celtic. Stuart Armstrong tries a through ball, but Leigh Griffiths is caught offside.
57:20 Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
57:20 Foul by Etzaz Hussain (Molde).
55:21 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Molde 3, Celtic 1. Mohammed Elyounoussi (Molde) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mattias Moström with a cross.
54:35 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Molde 2, Celtic 1. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
51:58 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
51:57 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Molde. Per Egil Flo replaces Knut Olav Rindaroy.
50:38 Delay in match Knut Olav Rindaroy (Molde) because of an injury.
49:13 Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
49:13 Foul by Harmeet Singh (Molde).
48:38 Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kris Commons.
47:53 Attempt missed. Vegard Forren (Molde) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joona Toivio with a cross following a corner.
47:18 Corner, Molde. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
46:00 Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
45:00 Second Half begins Molde 2, Celtic 0.
45:00 +0:11 Half time Half Time
First Half ends, Molde 2, Celtic 0.
44:12 Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
44:12 Foul by Ola Kamara (Molde).
43:08 Corner, Molde. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
41:51 Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
41:51 Mohammed Elyounoussi (Molde) wins a free kick on the left wing.
40:07 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joona Toivio.
40:06 Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dedryck Boyata.
38:50 Offside, Molde. Harmeet Singh tries a through ball, but Mattias Moström is caught offside.
37:11 Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
37:11 Foul by Ola Kamara (Molde).
34:28 Offside, Celtic. Emilio Izaguirre tries a through ball, but Leigh Griffiths is caught offside.
30:28 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ola Kamara.
30:02 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mattias Moström.
29:08 Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29:08 Foul by Etzaz Hussain (Molde).
28:08 Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
25:42 Attempt missed. Mohammed Elyounoussi (Molde) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Knut Olav Rindaroy.
23:34 Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
23:34 Foul by Vegard Forren (Molde).
20:45 Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
20:45 Daniel Hestad (Molde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:17 Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:17 Foul by Ola Kamara (Molde).
19:19 Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
19:19 Foul by Etzaz Hussain (Molde).
17:57 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Molde 2, Celtic 0. Vegard Forren (Molde) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joona Toivio with a cross following a corner.
17:07 Corner, Molde. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
16:06 Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
10:36 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Molde 1, Celtic 0. Ola Kamara (Molde) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohammed Elyounoussi.
2:54 Offside, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths tries a through ball, but Stuart Armstrong is caught offside.
2:44 Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
2:43 Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kris Commons.
0:00 First Half begins.
0:00 Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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