Celtic’s Europa League hopes were blown off course in dreadful conditions at the blustery Aker Stadion in Norway.
The artificial surface was rendered all but unplayable in places by swirling wind and rain as first-half goals by striker Ola Kamara, who played under Hoops boss Ronny Deila at Stromsgodset, and defender Vegard Forren gave the home side a two-goal interval lead.
As the players continued to slip and slide after the break, Kris Commons reduced the lead in the 54th minute with a well-taken goal but seconds later Mohamed Elyounoussi restored the Norwegian club’s advantage.
Celtic could not get back into the match and have two points from three Group A games with Molde still sitting atop with seven points ahead of their visit to Glasgow on November 5.
Deila, back in his home country, made three changes to the side which started Saturday’s 1-0 win over Motherwell.
Right-back Mikael Lustig replaced Tyler Blackett with Efe Ambrose moving into the centre of defence, Stefan Johansen came in for Tom Rogic and top scorer Leigh Griffiths was back at the expense of Nadir Ciftci.
It was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first official game as boss of the home side following his return to the club for the second time on Wednesday.
But the former Manchester United striker went with the team already picked by Erling Moe, who had been in caretaker charge since Tor Ole Skullerud was sacked in August.
It was difficult for both sides to get any sort of passing game going but initially the visitors looked to be coping better.
However, in the 11th minute, with almost their first meaningful attack, Molde took the lead.
Defender Dedryck Boyata’s pass was cut out by Elyounoussi and when he knocked a simple pass into Kamara he opened his body up before beating keeper Craig Gordon at his near post.
There was more woe for the Scottish champions seven minutes later following a Molde corner.
Joona Toivio crossed for fellow centre-back Forren to volley past Gordon from 14 yards, the ball first coming off the surface before speeding into the net.
Just before the break, Gordon did well to tip a cross from Elyounoussi over the bar for a corner, but their vulnerability at the back remained clear.
When Commons took advantage of a mistake in the Molde defence by Martin Linnes to skilfully chip the ball into the net past Horvath soon after the break, it gave the Parkhead side a lifeline.
However, the Celtic fans were still celebrating when the Norwegian side again established their two-goal lead, Elyounoussi converting a cross from Mattias Mostrom at the back post.
The goal stunned Deila’s side and in the 62nd minute they could have lost another when Linnes picked out Kamara with a pin-point cross but the forward misjudged the flight of the ball.
Kamara then missed a one-on-one with Gordon, skewing his shot wide.
Gary Mackay-Steven replaced Armstrong in the 73rd minute and Ciftci came on for Commons who showed his disgust at the decision as he went into the dugout.
Gordon then saved from Molde’sEtzaz Hussain before Hoops midfielder Nir Bitton sent a dipping shot off the top of the crossbar with two minutes remaining and Ciftci then headed wide.
Molde: Horvath, Linnes, Toivio, Forren, Rindaroy (Flo 52), Daniel Hestad, Singh, Hussain, Mostrom, Kamara (Eirik Hestad 74), Elyounoussi (Bakenga 84). Subs not used: Neydson, Semb Berge, Hoiland, Sander Svendsen.
Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Ambrose, Boyata, Izaguirre, Brown, Bitton, Commons (Ciftci 76), Johansen, Armstrong (Mackay-Steven 74), Griffiths. Subs not used: Bailly, Blackett, Rogic, McGregor, Tierney.
Ref: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia).
Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield debut ended in a frustrating Group B draw against 10-man Rubin Kazan as Liverpool registered their third successive 1-1 Europa League draw.
Oleg Kuzmin was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 37th minute and Emre Can equalised just before half-time to cancel out Marko Devic’s opener but Klopp’s side failed to find a winner despite their numerical advantage.
In Group J, Tottenham let an early lead slip as they suffered a blow with a 2-1 defeat by Anderlecht in Brussels.
Christian Eriksen scored for Spurs early on after a positive start, but, after a number of missed chances, the hosts levelled through Guillaume Gillet’s volley, and Stefano Okaka struck late on to secure a win for the Belgian side.