In a pulsating Europa League semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur delivered a commanding 3-1 win over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, placing one foot firmly in the final. A raucous crowd of 61,327 witnessed Spurs’ best performance in months, though a late deflected goal from Bodø/Glimt’s Ulrik Saltnes ensured the tie remains alive heading into the second leg in Norway.
The match exploded into life just 37 seconds in, when Yves Bissouma’s high press won the ball, allowing Pedro Porro to deliver a pinpoint cross. Richarlison nodded it back across goal, and Brennan Johnson arrived at the far post to head home, sparking wild celebrations. It was Tottenham’s fastest goal in a major European competition since 1971, setting the tone for a dominant first half. Bodø/Glimt, rattled by the early strike, struggled to find their rhythm, their players forming a huddle to regroup as Spurs pressed relentlessly.
Midway through the first half, James Maddison doubled Tottenham’s lead with a moment of class. Latching onto a sublime through-ball from Porro, the England midfielder took a deft touch to control the ball before slotting it under goalkeeper Nikita Haikin with his left foot. The hosts could have been further ahead by the break, with Haikin denying a stunning Rodrigo Bentancur volley and Richarlison firing a tame effort straight at the keeper after Maddison’s clever flick.
The second half saw Spurs maintain control, and their dominance was rewarded just past the hour mark. Cristian Romero, stealing in front of Bodø/Glimt’s Fredrik Sjovold, was fouled in the box, and after a VAR review, a penalty was awarded. Dominic Solanke, cool as ever, sent Haikin the wrong way to make it 3-0, prompting chants of “We’re going to Dublin” from the home fans dreaming of the Europa League final. Solanke’s strike, his second crucial penalty in as many rounds after his heroics against Eintracht Frankfurt, underlined his growing importance to Ange Postecoglou’s side.
With the tie seemingly wrapped up, Tottenham’s intensity dipped, and Bodø/Glimt capitalized in the 83rd minute. Saltnes, the visitors’ stand-in captain, produced a moment of magic, chopping onto his left foot to evade Bentancur before unleashing a shot that deflected off Micky van de Ven and looped past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario. The goal, Bodø/Glimt’s first shot on target, silenced the stadium and gave the Norwegian side a lifeline ahead of their home leg on their artificial pitch in the Arctic Circle.
Despite the late setback, Tottenham’s performance was a stark contrast to their dismal Premier League form, where they languish in 16th. Postecoglou’s decision to start Bissouma over the injured Lucas Bergvall paid dividends, with the midfielder breaking up play and setting the tone for the opener. Maddison and Porro were outstanding, the latter’s distribution and attacking intent earning praise amid speculation about a potential move to Manchester City. Romero, despite conceding the penalty, was a rock at the back, though Bentancur endured a quieter night, culpable for the deflection on Saltnes’ goal.
Bodø/Glimt, missing key players like Patrick Berg and Hakon Evjen due to suspensions, showed flashes of their attacking quality through Fredrik Bjorkan and Jens Petter Hauge but were largely outclassed. Their impressive home record and the return of influential captain Berg for the second leg will give them hope, but they face a steep challenge to overturn a two-goal deficit against a Spurs side buoyed by this result.
Postecoglou remained defiant post-match, insisting the late goal would not dent his team’s confidence. “We played some fantastic football tonight,” he told reporters. “The lads showed what they’re capable of, and we’ll go to Norway with the same mentality.” Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle, speaking on TNT Sports, predicted Spurs would score in the second leg to “kill the tie,” though he cautioned about Bodø/Glimt’s formidable home form.