Tottenham firmly in driving seat regardless of Bodø/Glimt’s unwelcome late reply | Europa League

With eight minutes to play, this appeared like being the night time that the Tottenham followers had dreamed about. At occasions, it was laborious to listen to your self assume because the feelings of a irritating marketing campaign poured out with every aim 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 synthetic floor within the Arctic Circle.

However as Kjetil Knutsen’s aspect have confirmed repeatedly 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 immediately. Tottenham have by no means been identified for doing issues the straightforward approach however for a aspect that has misplaced 19 Premier League video games this season, at the least they’ve a two-goal cushion to guard.

There had been an enormous sense of anticipation among the many residence supporters earlier than kick-off, with the large South Stand remodeled into an impressive tifo show of the Spurs motto ‘To Dare Is To Do’ simply earlier than the groups emerged. Ange Postecoglou harassed beforehand the significance of creating a lead forward of their mission to city virtually 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 will need to have identified this was their large alternative. Knutsen was solely in a position to title 5 outfield gamers on the bench as their yellow-clad followers packed out the tip behind Nikita Haikin’s aim hoping to restrict the injury.

So it might 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 appropriate and picked out Richarlison on the again submit. The Brazilian’s header throughout aim deceived everybody however Johnson, who made no mistake by directing the ball again into the opposite nook.

It was the quickest aim of the season on this competitors and most of this spectacular stadium erupted in delight. Bodø’s gamers shaped a huddle in an try and reset themselves and, for the subsequent half an hour, they seemed to be nearly dealing with Tottenham’s risk. Future Udogie flashed a volley over the bar at one finish earlier than Knutsen was on his toes 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 operating in behind their defence when he scooped Cristian Romero’s lengthy ball astray halfway via the half. The England midfielder didn’t make the identical mistake twice as he raced onto Pedro Porro’s cross and completed along 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 aim simply earlier than the break. Postecoglou, who had celebrated each objectives with gusto on the touchline, headed down the tunnel wanting like a supervisor answerable for his personal future.

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 preserving the ball however discovered it laborious to flee their very own half regardless of shading the possession statistics. Catastrophe struck simply earlier than the hour mark after 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 determination on the recommendation of the VAR. Solanke sat Haikin down earlier than coolly dispatching his penalty into the web.

Tel might have given Spurs much more respiratory house when his shot from a good angle was tipped across the submit. It was to show expensive as Saltnes ensured there’s nonetheless lots on the road subsequent week.