TOTTENHAM 3-1 BODO/GLIMT: Ange Postecoglou’s side have laboured horrifically in the Premier League but their exploits in Europe have once again kept their season alive
Ange Postecoglou has saved the best for big European nights – and this was the best of all.
Tottenham were sensational as they swept aside Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt and put one foot in the Europa League final. It was rip-roaring, loud and brilliant as they blew Bodo/Glimt away with one of the best nights this magnificent stadium has ever seen.
Bodo/Glimt did manage to get a late consolation which gives them a glimmer of hope but surely not even Tottenham could blow it from here. That would be truly Spursy. Tottenham were on a completely different level to Bodo/Glimt and, while Spurs have been woeful in the Premier League, they turned on the style again in the Europa League.
Spurs boss Postecoglou insists he always wins a trophy in his second season and he looks determined to keep his promise while trying to deliver Tottenham’s first piece of silverware in 17 years. Tottenham are now unbeaten in 20 home games in Europe and few night have been better than this because the crowd got behind the team, turned up the volume and the visitors looked scared stiff.
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Brennan Johnson put Tottenham ahead after just 38 seconds – the fastest goal in the Europa League this season – and they never looked back. What is much harder to understand is where this Spurs team have been hiding this season. They have lost 19 games – half a season – in the Premier League and yet looked terrific on a night which will live long in the memory.
They had energy, desire and determination. Tottenham could – and should – have put the two-legged semi final to bed in one night. The fact they will only take a two goal advantage to a plastic pitch inside the Arctic Circle must be the only slight disappointment. Bodo/Glimt were missing players through suspension and injury but their first effort on target was their consolation after 83 minutes. They looked out of their depth and it will surely be the end of their fairytale.
The population of Bodo is only 50,000 – less than the stadium’s 61,000 capacity – and the visitors looked completely overwhelmed. Tottenham’s magnificent stadium was built for nights like these and older fans still revel in memories of European glories from yesteryear. This felt like a trip down memory lane to better days and glorious European nights.
They whipped up an incredible noise and atmosphere inside Tottenham’s magnificent stadium before kick-off with flags, music and the crowd really buying into it. It got even louder within a minute when Tottenham went ahead. Yves Bissouma’s shoulder charge on Ole Didrik Blomberg drew screams for a foul but Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez waved play on.
Pedro Porro’s deep cross was then headed back across goal by Richarlison and there was Johnson lurking to head home unchallenged to give Spurs a dream start. Bodo/Glimt looked like rabbits in the headlights while Postecoglou got every big call spot on. Richarlison ran himself into a frenzy in the first 45 minutes and, even though he only lasted a half, he tore Bodo/Glimt apart. Even James Maddison showed up for a change.
Porro’s long ball over the top released Maddison and the Tottenham midfielder scampered away, rounded the keeper and then cleverly slotted the ball into the far corner. Tottenham could not keep up the frenetic pace into the second half. But they made it 3-0 when Dominic Solanke converted a penalty after VAR ruled Fredrik Sjovold had fouled Cristian Romero.
Bodo/Glimt finally gave themselves hope with their first shot on target in the 83rd minute when Ulrik Saltnes’ shot was deflected in off Rodrigo Bentencur. But surely Spurs have done enough.
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