UCD AFC will take a narrow advantage into the second leg in Norway after they came back from behind to beat Molde FK in the UEFA Youth League. Molde captain Leo Oestigaard gave the away side an early lead but two goals in as many minutes from Luka L
UCD AFC will take a narrow advantage into the second leg in Norway after they came back from behind to beat Molde FK in the UEFA Youth League.
Molde captain Leo Oestigaard gave the away side an early lead but two goals in as many minutes from Luka Lovic and Sean McDonald at the end of the first-half got UCD the victory.
The Norwegian side were positive from the beginning and deservedly went ahead in the 13th minute. Molde caused problems from corners early on and when Simen Hagbø's corner wasn't dealt with, Molde captain Leo Oestigaard was there to finish from close range.
It took UCD to settle in front of a strong crowd at the UCD Bowl as both Neil Farrugia and Conor Crowley had shots saved just past the half-hour.
The home side flipped the game on it's head in the final two minutes of the first-half. Firstly, Crowley's 25-yard free-kick from the right was only parried out and Luka Lovic was able to finish through a crowd of bodies in the 44th minute.
Less than 40 seconds later, UCD were ahead. Molde defender Elias Mordal gave away possession to UCD striker Sean McDonald who rushed onto goal and finished under the keeper Jonatan Byttingsvik.
Molde pressed for an equaliser throughout the second-half with efforts from Christian Dahl and Eman Markovic but failed to trouble UCD keeper Conor Kearns.
UCD almost sealed the match in the final moments of the game as captain Andrew O'Reilly burst through two players to go clean through but Oestigaard did well to come back with a late-ditch tackle.
The Students will now travel to Norway to face Molde FK in the second leg on Wednesday, October 18th and will take a narrow advantage as they look to progress to the second round of the UEFA Youth League.
UCD U19 manager Maciej Tarnogrodzki said: "It's a great result for the club and the team who did really well to get the win in the end.
"It was always going to be a difficult game but we showed a great determination to come from behind and get the win. We defended really well in the second-half and we'll take the lead into the second leg now. We'll watch the game back and see what we can improve for the second leg and hopefully we can make it through to the second round."
Teams
UCD AFC: Kearns (GK), Farrell, Dignall, Manley, Boore, Lovic, Quinn (Hannigan 90), O'Reilly (C), McDonald (O'Keane 89), Crowley (Ryan 74), Farrugia.
Subs: Prenter (GK), Byrne, Rowe, Meaney.
Molde FK: Byttingsvik (GK), Mordal, Breivik, Oestigaard (C), Svendsen, Gussiås (Langset 79), Dahl (Hestad 74), Moe, Hagbø, Svendsen, Markovic.
Subs: Raestad (GK), Wenaas, Jenset, Ranheim.
Referee: Iwan Arwel Griffth (WAL)
