Fredrik Gulbrandsen in tears

(Molde – Strømsgodset 4–0) Molde delivered a great victory in the first attempt, but the brilliant start comes with an aftertaste.

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Monday 1 April at 19:00

The short version

• Molde won 4-0 against Strømsgodset.
• Success striker Fredrik Gulbrandsen was injured, possible severe strain in the thigh.
• Goals by Eirik Hestad, Markus André Kaasa, Kristian Eriksen and Magnus Wolff Eikrem.
• MFK opens the season strong after last year’s nightmare start.

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Molde lost Fredrik Gulbrandsen before half an hour had passed. The tip disappeared into tears. It looked like the match-winner from the cup final in December got a severe strain on the top of his thigh.

Gulbrandsen, who is in good form but has scored seven goals in Europe since October, barely managed to get the first Molde goal of the spring before he was crushed and had to leave with his hands in front of his face. He shouted out his despair on the way into the dressing room, according to images from TV 2.

– It didn’t look good, but a little early for me to say how serious, says Erling Moe. The Molde coach could be pleased with the lead before the break.

• 1–0: A perfect cross ball from Anders Hagelskjær to Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik ended with an even better cross to Eirik Hestad. The latter squeezed the ball straight into the goal with a perfect right inside.

Strømsgoods made a strong comeback.

Eirik Ulland Andersen had the biggest chance against his former club. But Molde goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrøm saved. Ulland Andersen later in the 1st half set up Marko Farji for an almost equal opportunity. The winger’s finish rolled just wide of the post.

– There is a lot that is okay. But then we sloppy recovery a couple of times and get counterattacks against us, says goalscorer Eirik Hestad to TV 2.

– This match is alive, reports Strømsgodset coach Jørgen Isnes.

But it only took minutes before Godset got into trouble after the break. Referee Espen Eskås caught Eirik Ulland Andersen’s illegal tackle on Gulbrandsen substitute Johan Bakke. But Svein Oddvar Moen in the VAR room reacted.

Thus it ended with a yellow card for Ulland Andersen and a penalty for Molde.

• 2–0: Markus André Kaasa put the penalty kick through the glove of Strømsgodset goalkeeper Per Kristian Bråtveit and into the corner.

Then Magnus Wolff Eikrem came on the field. He hit a nice, short pass.

• 3–0: Johan Bakke converted the opening pass from the Molde captain into a good cross. Kristian Eriksen dive-headed in Molde’s third goal.

Strømsgodset came up with new big chances. But neither Dodou Gaye nor Gustav Valsvik managed to put the ball past Molde goalkeeper Karlstrøm.

But soon Wolff Eikrem was back in the center. The pass came from Casper Øyvann.

• 4–0: The Molde veteran rapped in from right on the inside of the 16-metre area. The shot sat controlled in the far corner.

Led by a sure-footed Mats Møller Dæhli in midfield, Molde – despite Strømsgodset’s chances – had full control of the points.

– A good start that we can build on, says Molde coach Moe. He is unlikely to experience the same as a year ago.

Last year, Molde ended up 19 points behind Bodø/Glimt in the table after a nightmare start with just one point in the first four games. The first victory only came after 28 days for MFK, who ended up in a disappointing 5th place after winning the series in 2022.