Molde 0 - 2 Fenerbahce: Fenerbahce remain in control of their Europa League destiny

Posted Friday, November 27, 2015 by PA

Fenerbahce kept qualification for the knockout stage of the Europa League in their own hands with an impressive 2-0 win at Group A leaders Molde.

The Norwegians were already secure of a place in the last 32, having gone into Thursday's match five points clear of the Turkish side, who were two ahead of Ajax.

However, Fernandao and Ozan Tufan netted in the second half to leave Fenerbahce on course for qualification, as Molde finished the match with 10 men defender Knut Olav Rindaroy was sent off in stoppage time.

Ajax won 2-1 at Celtic to keep alive their slim chances of overhauling Fenerbahce, who host the Scottish side in the final round of games.

Fenerbahce almost got off to a flying start when Josef Souza's 25-yard effort was pushed around the post by Molde keeper Ethan Horvath.

Molde, who recently reappointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager, finally found a spell of possession, and midfielder Etzaz Hussain forced a good save from Fabiano, the Brazilian on loan from Porto.

Fenerbahce, though, remained on the front foot, but could have found themselves behind five minutes before the break when a 20-yard effort from Sander Svendsen hit the crossbar.

The Turks continued to press following the restart, and Horvath had to be alert to push away Diego's curling effort.

It was finally 1-0 on 68 minutes.

This time the delivery in from the left by Alper Potuk was inch perfect, with Fernandao losing his marker at the far post to head in his fourth goal of the Europa League campaign.

Molde should have equalised with 15 minutes left when the ball was whipped across the penalty area from the right-hand side, but midfielder Hussain missed his kick at the far post.

Fenerbahce secured victory with a second goal on 84 minutes.

Fernandao was played into the edge of the Molde penalty area, and although Horvath came out to make a smart block, the ball rebounded into the path of Tufan, who tapped it into an empty net.

Substitute Robin van Persie saw a late effort saved when played into the right side of the penalty area, with Volkan Sen then unfortunate to see his follow-up effort hit the woodwork before bouncing clear off the keeper.

As the conditions worsened in stoppage time, Olav Rindaroy was dismissed for a needless stamp on Potuk, meaning he will miss the final match away to Ajax, where victory would secure Molde top spot.