Molde see off Sligo to progress

Molde FK will take on The New Saints FC or Legia Warszawa in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round after completing a hard-fought win against Sligo Rovers FC in Norway.

After securing a 1-0 success in the Republic of Ireland last Wednesday, goals from Martin Linnes and Aliou Coly at Molde Stadion ensured there were no dramas for Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side, who are aiming to make the group stage after a 14-year absence.

If the visitors were keen to get back on terms early, their plans were swiftly ripped up as just five minutes in Linnes latched onto a through ball from Jo Inge Berget and drove low into the net. That goal could have taken the wind out of the Sligo sails but Ian Baraclough's men responded in spirited fashion though David Cawley and Kieran Djilali both fired excellent openings off target.

Anthony Elding then failed to connect cleanly with Gavin Peers's low cross just before the break as Molde showed nerves. However, the Norwegian champions asserted their dominance after the interval with Vegard Forren and Emmanuel Ekpo being denied before substitute Coly wrapped things up with 12 minutes to go.