With eight minutes to play, this appeared like being the evening that the Tottenham followers had dreamed about. At occasions, it was arduous to listen to your self assume because the feelings of a irritating marketing campaign poured out with every purpose that went in as they raced right into a 3-0 lead over Bodø/Glimt.
Brennan Johnson’s opener after simply 38 seconds had set the tone in opposition to the plucky Norwegian champions, who’ve by some means reached this stage of the competitors for the primary time. Additional objectives from James Maddison and Dominic Solanke appeared to have given them an unassailable benefit forward subsequent week’s second leg on a man-made floor within the Arctic Circle.
However as Kjetil Knutsen’s aspect have confirmed again and again throughout this outstanding run, they by no means know when they’re overwhelmed. A late strike from captain Ulrik Saltnes that deflected off the unlucky Micky van de Ven modified the complexion of this tie right away. Tottenham have by no means been recognized for doing issues the simple approach however for a aspect that has misplaced 19 Premier League video games this season, at the very least they’ve a two-goal cushion to guard.
There had been an enormous sense of anticipation among the many dwelling supporters earlier than kick-off, with the enormous South Stand reworked into an impressive tifo show of the Spurs motto ‘To Dare Is To Do’ simply earlier than the groups emerged. Ange Postecoglou pressured beforehand the significance of building a lead forward of their mission to city nearly 1,0000km north of Oslo for second leg subsequent week, though he acknowledged {that a} aspect who’ve knocked out Lazio and Olympiakos within the final two rounds have been going to be no pushovers. But with captain Patrick Berg and key midfielder Håkon Evjen each suspended and Bodø additionally lacking key defenders, he should have recognized this was their huge alternative. Knutsen was solely capable of title 5 outfield gamers on the bench as their yellow-clad followers packed out the tip behind Nikita Haikin’s purpose hoping to restrict the injury.
So it may hardly have been a worse begin for them when Yves Bissouma – a shock inclusion by Postecoglou as a result of Lucas Bergvall was dominated out after injuring his ankle in coaching on Wednesday – discovered house down the suitable and picked out Richarlison on the again put up. The Brazilian’s header throughout purpose deceived everybody however Johnson, who made no mistake by directing the ball again into the opposite nook.
It was the quickest purpose of the season on this competitors and most of this spectacular stadium erupted in delight. Bodø’s gamers shaped a huddle in an try to reset themselves and, for the following half an hour, they seemed to be nearly dealing with Tottenham’s menace. Future Udogie flashed a volley over the bar at one finish earlier than Knutsen was on his ft interesting for a penalty on the different when the Italian clashed with Isak Määttä inside the realm however the referee was having none of it.
Bodø had been given warning of the hazard Maddison posed working in behind their defence when he scooped Cristian Romero’s lengthy ball off course halfway by way of the half. The England midfielder didn’t make the identical mistake twice as he raced onto Pedro Porro’s go and completed together with his left foot beneath Haikin. Tottenham smelled blood and had the Russian goalkeeper not produced a wonderful save to disclaim a shocking volley from Rodrigo Bentancur then they might have been out of sight by half-time. Ole Blomberg couldn’t hit the goal when Bode lastly mustered their first sight of purpose simply earlier than the break. Postecoglou, who had celebrated each objectives with gusto on the touchline, headed down the tunnel wanting like a supervisor accountable for his personal future.
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Richarlison didn’t emerge for the second half and was changed by Mathys Tel, with Bodø additionally making a change of their overworked defence. They tried to take the sting out of Spurs by conserving the ball however discovered it arduous to flee their very own half regardless of shading the possession statistics. Catastrophe struck simply earlier than the hour mark once they didn’t clear a free kick and Fredrik Sjøvold caught Romero first as he was attempting to clear. The referee initially waved play on however reversed his resolution on the recommendation of the VAR. Solanke sat Haikin down earlier than coolly dispatching his penalty into the online.
Tel may have given Spurs much more respiratory house when his shot from a good angle was tipped across the put up. It was to show pricey as Saltnes ensured there’s nonetheless lots on the road subsequent week.
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