Molde started the match week with a heavy 1-2 home defeat to Aalesund at Aker Stadion. Trailing by two goals from the first half, a late Kristian Lonebu strike proved only a consolation as they ran out of time to mount a comeback.
Aalesund took an early lead when Mathias Christensen found the net in the seventh minute. Molde pressed but were caught on the counter, with Isak Gabriel Skotheim doubling the advantage just before halftime. Manager Sindre Tjelmeland made three changes at the break, including introducing Mats Møller Dæhli, but the team struggled to break down Aalesund's compact 5-3-2 shape.
Only after Kristian Lonebu's introduction in the 71st minute did the attack gain more potency. He pulled one back from an Emil Breivik pass with eight minutes remaining, but no equaliser followed. Molde saw three yellow cards, while Aalesund received four.
Despite dominating possession with 68 percent and taking 16 shots to Aalesund's 12, Molde could not convert their superiority into points. The defeat leaves them fourth in the Eliteserien table with 36 points from 21 games, 14 points behind leaders Viking. It ends a run of four consecutive victories, with their recent form now reading four wins and one loss from the last five.
The next fixture is an away trip to face sixth-placed Lillestrøm on October 11th. With players like Seydina Mohamed Diop and Vebjørn Hoff currently sidelined, Tjelmeland will need to find solutions within the squad ahead of that important match.
