WHAT a Molde-y way to lose.
Shamrock Rovers were a kick away from the last 16 of the Conference League but lost on penalties as Norwegians Molde progressed at their expense.
Molde goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrom was sent the wrong way by four Rovers’ penalty takers but guessed right for Aaron Greene’s one to make a good save.
And with Molde’s five all hitting the back of the net, it ensured Molde went through after they won 1-0 on the night to overcome last week’s loss in Norway.
But it left the Hoops and the majority of the 9,533 in attendance heartbroken at what might have been.
The European run has been historic. Last night was their 16th game of the campaign that has seen them go further than any Irish side ever and progress beyond the group stages.
They also did it the hard way. Vikingur and Celje, who were beaten in qualifiers last summer, reached this stage too.
PAOK did the same in the Europa League having beaten the Hoops while Sparta Prague reached the group stages.
Of the six teams Rovers faced in the Conference League, there will be three in the last 16; Chelsea, Rapid Vienna and Banja Luka, while APOEL were eliminated last night.
That may comfort the Hoops in future but not last night when there was the chance to go through.
They kicked off leading 1-0 on aggregate and did most of the running on the night even after Magnus Wolff Eikrem scored after ten minutes.
Molde also played the final 30 minutes with ten men after defender Isak Amundsen was sent off for two yellow cards.
And while the Hoops lost on penalties, they will wonder how on earth they were not awarded one after 28 minutes that, had they scored, would have altered the game.
They could have scored anyway with a brilliant counter attack as Noonan held the ball up and fed Graham Burke who picked out the unmarked Aaron McEneff haring thorugh the middle.
The midfielder was onside and saw goalkeeper Karlstrom storming towards him as he nicked the ball beyond him before being flattened.
His effort was on target and only kept out by a brilliant goalline clearance by Martin Linnes who managed to get the ball away for a corner.
Yet McEneff was still lying on the ground as Hoops’ players all looked to Greek referee Tasos Sidiropoulos who was pointing towards the corner flag.
But he then got word in his ear of a VAR check which, remarkably, stuck with his onfield decision.
One wonders what the referee assessor in Tallaght, Martin Hansson – yes, he of Thierry Henry’s handball fame – thought of the incident.
But by then they were trailing as Eikrem was gifted a goal despite Molde having just 13 percent possession in the opening ten minutes.
It was a disastrous goal to concede as Halldor Stenevik launched a ball forward that was allowed to bounce on the edge of the area.
Whether the ball then held up in the wind or it was a moment of uncertainty, Lee Grace opted not to clear the ball and instead shield it for goalkeeper Ed McGinty to claim.
But the goalkeeper failed to gather and just pushed it timidly away where a surprised Wolff Eikrem rolled the ball into the empty net from the edge of the area.
Given the Hoops were without seven first choice players through injury and suspension, and lost Burke, Josh Honohan and Gary O’Neill to injury, it could have been curtains.
But they kept going and had chances .
Michael Noonan took the ball too wide after skipping by goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrom and shot across goal on 14 minutes before Aaron McEneff had an effort on 18 minutes.
But they had goalkeeper McGinty to thank moments later when he atoned for his earlier error with a fine one-on-one save from Fredrik Gulbrandsen.
The second half saw Rovers in control with Burke and McEneff instrumental.
Burke had a shot blocked by Linnes when picked out at the far post by a lovely cross from the right by McEneff on 60 minutes.
Burke had a shot saved by Karlstrom after he and O’Sullivan linked well before going off injured to a standing ovation with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Amundsen was sent off just before extra time for cynically pulling down McEneff, having earlier been booked for taking down Noonan just outside the penalty area.
The extra period was tense but had little goal mouth action as the Hoops suffered yet injuries, as Honohan and O’Neill limped off.
Noonan had a decent chance 12 minutes from time when his diving header from McEneff’s cross drifted wide.
But there were no further goals with winners on the night Molde the happier to reach penalties.
It was then clear why as Frederik Iher, Halldor Stenevik, Mads Enggard, Daniel Daga and Erik Hestad all scored.
Matt Healy, Noonan, John O’Sullivan and McEneff did too but going third, Greene was the unlucky one.
And the Hoops will rue their luck.
Shamrock Rovers 0
Molde 1 (Wolff Eikrem 10)
Sun Star Man – Aaron McEneff (Shamrock Rovers)
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty 7; Honohan 7 (Ozhianvunu 104, 6), Lopes 8, Grace 7; Grant 6, McEneff 8, O’Neill 7 (J O’Sullivan 117, 6), Healy 7, C O’Sullivan 7; Burke 8 (Greene 88, 6), Noonan 7.
Molde: Karlstrom 7; Linnes 7 (Engeerd 65, 6), Haugan 7, Amundsen 7, Stenevik 7; Daehli 5 (Bjornbak 82, 6), Brevik 7; Eriksen 7, Wolff Eikrem 7 (Hestad 90, 6), Kaasa 5 (Daga 96, 6); Gulbrandsen 5 (Ihler 65, 6).
Referee: T Sidiropoulos (Greece) 3.
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