Shamrock Rovers' history-making European run ended in heartbreak in Tallaght on Thursday as Rovers fell 5-4 in penalties to FK Molde.
A missed penalty from Aaron Greene was the difference between the sides in the end.
It's a bittersweet end to an unlikely European odyssey. Rovers will have regrets, as Molde were reduced to ten men just before the fulltime whistle when Amundsen was sent off for a second yellow.
Rovers had done half the job a week prior with 16-year-old Michael Noonan breaking an incredible European record in scoring the winner for the League of Ireland side in Norway.
They made a solid start on Thursday but were undone by a calamity in defence against the run of play when goalkeeper Ed McGinty came out to clear the ball and could only punch it to Magnus Wolff Eikrem
The Molde captain finished with composure to level things up on aggregate with the resulting VAR check confirming the goal.
Sloppy from Shamrock Rovers as Molde take the lead in Tallaght...
It is now 1-1 on aggregate 👀pic.twitter.com/fWU9t3OX0G
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 20, 2025
There was controversy before the interval when Rovers appeared to be denied a stonewall penalty after Aaron McEneff was taken out by goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrom.
A brilliant ball from Graham Burke released Aaron McEneff who got to the ball before the 'keeper, prodding it goalbound before it was cleared off the line.
However, Karlstrom then continued his momentum, clattering McEneff having not made contact with the ball.
There was a VAR check but somehow the penalty was not awarded.
Should Shamrock Rovers have had a penalty? 🤔pic.twitter.com/RX2O5luT14
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 20, 2025
Club legend Ronan Finn was baffled as to why the penalty was not awarded when speaking on Premier Sports.
The 'keeper comes out and doesn't make the save, Aaron has clipped it over him and he has collided with Aaron.
"For me, if that is in the middle of the park that is and a central midfielder takes out another player it is a foul.
"If it is in the penalty area why should it be any different?"
Speaking after the game on Premier Sports, McEneff described what happened.
"I tried to speak to him but the rules say the ref can only speak to the captain. He just ' no penalty'"
Stephen Bradley had had lengthy conversations with the referee at halftime and told Premier Sports after the game why the penalty wasn't awarded.
"Supposedly when it's not a reckless challenge, it's not a penalty. They've been told last week from the referees. Which is astonishing. Let's see if they continue that trend going forward. For me it was a stonewall penalty. When I seen it back at halftime, it was a stonewall penalty.
The second-half saw both teams trade opportunities early and Rovers again had appeals for another penalty waved off after McEneff again hit the deck. That decision was more straightforward.
Molde would go down to 10 men just before extra-time, defender Amundsen rugby tackling Aaron Greene after losing the ball to get a stonewall second yellow card.
A moment of madness as Molde go down to 10 men pic.twitter.com/kEPJ9nIWwL
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 20, 2025
Molde ran down the clock by passing around their own backline despite the differential in numbers, Rovers trying to catch them out with their press.
The hosts had a series of corners but no really clear cut chances during extra-time, failing to really work the opposition goalkeeper.
