Advantage Solskjær as Molde breach Sligo defence

Sligo Rovers face an uphill task if they are to progress in the Champions League qualifiers after losing 1-0 to Ole Gunnar Solskjær's Molde in their second round, first leg at the Showgrounds tonight.

Sligo did start encouragingly, with Anthony Elding and David McMillan stretching the Molde defence early on.

It was McMillan who had the first real chance of the game on 24 minutes.

Defender Jeff Henderson released McMillan on a counterattack with his curling shot bringing a good stop from keeper Ordan Nyland.

Sligo's Gary Rogers became much the busier keeper before the break as he saved well from Alion Coly who had burst into the area just on the half hour as Molde came strongly into the game.

There were further let-offs for the big home crowd of 3,840 with Rogers pulling off a sublime stop from Chima Chukwa on 37 minutes before Jo Inge Berget shot wide when he should have scored.

The pressure on the Sligo goal told on 42 minutes, however, as Molde scored what proved the only goal of the game when midfielder Daniel Chima Chukwu clinically finished from inside the box following some lax defending by Evan McMillan.

Sligo enjoyed their best spell in the second half with Joseph Ndo shooting narrowly wide on 67 minutes their best chance.

Molde held out, though, and they are now very much in the driving seat ahead of the second leg in Norway next Tuesday.