World Football - Solskjaer leads
Molde to title
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led Molde to
the Norwegian league title for the first time in their 100-year history when
they drew 2-2 with Stromsgodset and rivals Rosenborg were humiliated at home by
Brann.
Solskjaer, the former Manchester
United striker, lifted Molde to 55 points with two rounds left to play, seven
more than Tromso and nine ahead of Rosenborg.
On a dramatic day, Molde looked
like securing the title with a victory over Stromsgodset until a last-minute
equaliser from Anders Agnes Konradsen postponed the party at the Aker stadium.
Rosenborg kicked off against
Brann knowing they needed a victory to keep their slim hopes alive, but they looked
nothing like title contenders as they conceded three goals in the first 20
minutes on the way to a 6-3 defeat.
Founded in 1911, Molde had
finished runners-up in the Tippeligaen on seven occasions but it took the
return of the talismanic Solskjaer to deliver the title the club had craved.
Despite scoring 33 goals in 42
matches for Molde before moving on to a glittering career at Manchester United,
Solskjaer had never won a major trophy in his native country.
He took over as manager at Molde
in January 2011 following a successful stint as reserve team coach at United
but suffered a rocky start on his return to Norway.
Molde lost his first league game
to promoted Sarpsborg 08, before draws against Tromso and Viking left his side
with just two points from a possible nine.
Solskjaer, famed for his ability
to come off the bench and change a game as he did when he scored in stoppage
time to secure United's dramatic Champions League final victory over Bayern
Munich in 1999, turned the team's fortunes around.
Victory at rivals Tromso on
October 2 put Molde in pole position in the title race and draws against Odd
Grenland, Stabaek and Stromsgodset secured the trophy.
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