Tottenham found themselves in a strong position with just eight minutes left, leading 3-0, and appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory. The match had started in dramatic fashion, with Brennan Johnson opening the scoring after only 38 seconds, setting the tone for what initially looked like a one-sided affair. James Maddison and Dominic Solanke added two more goals, and it seemed that Spurs would easily take a commanding lead into the second leg of their European tie.
However, Tottenham’s habit of making things difficult for themselves came to the fore once again. Bodø/Glimt’s Ulrik Saltnes scored a late goal in the 82nd minute, with the shot deflecting off Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven, reducing the lead to 3-1. This unexpected goal turned the momentum in Bodø/Glimt’s favor, and they now head into next week’s return leg with a glimmer of hope, despite being the underdogs.
Tottenham fans had been full of anticipation ahead of the match, with the giant South Stand displaying a stunning tifo of the club’s motto, “To Dare Is To Do.” The atmosphere was electric, and Spurs were expected to capitalize on the absence of key Bodø players, including their captain, Patrick Berg, and midfielder Håkon Evjen, both suspended. Bodø, who had already pulled off impressive upsets by knocking out Lazio and Olympiakos in earlier rounds, were seen as vulnerable with a squad stretched thin by injuries and suspensions. Despite this, Tottenham still had to be at their best to secure a win.
Yves Bissouma, making a surprise start in place of the injured Lucas Bergvall, quickly made his presence felt, providing an assist to Richarlison for the opening goal, which was expertly converted by Johnson. The goal came as a shock to the visitors, and the early breakthrough gave Spurs the confidence to press for more. For the next 30 minutes, Tottenham looked in complete control, with James Maddison showing his class by doubling the lead after a brilliant ball from Pedro Porro. A spectacular volley from Rodrigo Bentancur was only denied by an excellent save from Bodø’s goalkeeper, Nikita Haikin.
Bodø had few chances in the first half, with Tottenham’s defense standing firm. However, they did manage to force a penalty appeal, which was quickly dismissed by the referee. As the first half drew to a close, Postecoglou’s side seemed to have the game under control, with a 2-0 lead looking more than enough. Richarlison was replaced at the start of the second half by Mathys Tel, as Tottenham continued to press for a third goal. Although Bodø attempted to slow the pace of the game by keeping possession, they rarely posed a threat going forward.
Disaster struck for Bodø/Glimt just before the hour mark when they failed to clear a free-kick, leading to a penalty after Fredrik Sjøvold fouled Cristian Romero in the box. Solanke stepped up to coolly convert the penalty, putting Spurs 3-0 up. It could have been even better for Spurs moments later, as Mathys Tel was denied by another fine save from Haikin, but the missed opportunity would prove significant.
With time running out, Bodø/Glimt pulled one back through Saltnes’ deflected strike, which kept their hopes alive for the second leg. Tottenham, despite a late surge from their opponents, will still be confident heading into the return match in the Arctic Circle. However, they’ll need to finish the job and avoid any more surprises to secure their place in the final.
