First-leg advantage against Bodo/Glimt

A two-goal advantage leaves our Europa League semi-final in the balance after a dominant performance in the first leg in N17 on Thursday evening was dampened by a late goal from Bodø/Glimt.

We made a blistering start when Brennan Johnson headed us in front inside the first minute with James Maddison adding a second before the break and we were totally in command when Dominic Solanke converted a second-half penalty to send Tottenham Hotspur Stadium wild.

A healthy lead was required ahead of the return leg in the deep north of Norway in a week’s time – where freezing conditions and an artificial pitch has helped Bodø/Glimt reach the last four – but our advantage was reduced seven minutes from time when Ulrik Saltnes netted with a deflected shot to give the entire tie a whole different complexion.

We made six changes to the side that started at Anfield on Sunday with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison all drafted in, while the visitors were forced into changes as well, with key players Patrick Berg and Hakon Evjen suspended and Odin Bjortuft injured.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was at its raucous best amid a sea of white and flags waving in the lead up to kick-off and if it was a fast start we wanted, it was a fast start we got! The game was just 38 seconds old when we took the lead, Bissouma showing good strength to win the ball back high up the pitch, Pedro Porro swung in a deep cross which Richarlison headed to the back post for Johnson to nod past Nikita Haikin.

The noise levels increased even further and we looked to take advantage of our dream start with a second but Maddison flicked over the bar with a difficult opportunity. As the game settled down though, it became a fairly even affair with both sides playing to a nice tempo, although the goalmouth action tended to be at the Bodø end, with a series of corners coming to nothing for us, while Destiny Udogie fired over after neat hold-up play from Solanke in the 30th minute.

We didn’t have to wait long for the second though. Four minutes later, Porro collected the ball from Guglielmo Vicario and pinged a delightful 50-yard pass over the defence which Maddison superbly controlled before slipping his shot behind Haikin and Villads Nielsen and finding the back of the net. Haikin then kept his side in the game with a wonderful save to deny Bentancur’s fierce volley from the edge of the box and the visitors almost pulled one back on the stroke of half-time, Ole Didrik Blomberg stealing in to just lift the ball over the bar from Isak Määtä’s cross.

Bodø came out for the second half needing a response and they started brightly with plenty of possession, although they weren’t able to create anything of real note as we stayed resolute at the back. And, as we wrestled back the dominance, we added a third in the 61st minute from the penalty spot. With the ball bouncing around in the box, Romero was caught by Fredrik Sjøvold as he controlled the ball with Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez pointing to the spot after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Solanke stepped up, as he did in Frankfurt in the last round, and rolled the ball into the bottom corner.

Romero headed just wide from a corner but the visitors still carried a threat and Bissouma and Porro needed to make vital interceptions in our own box to preserve our three-goal lead before Bodø scored with their first shot on target – in fact their only shot on target in the game – with seven minutes remaining, skipper Saltnes showing great feet in the area to work a yard of space and hitting a shot which flicked off Bentancur and looped over Vicario.

That led to a nervy end to the game as we didn’t really know whether to stick or twist, while the visitors sensed the anxiety and pushed forward in search of a second. In fact, neither goalkeeper was worked in the final stages, although Dejan Kulusevski went very close with a curling shot on the turn that flew a whisker wide right at the end. All to play for in Norway...

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Johnson 1, Maddison 34, Solanke 61 (pen); Bodø/Glimt – Saltnes 83.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Romero; Bodø/Glimt – Bjørkan, Hauge.

Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (Spain).

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Clear skies, light winds, 23 degrees.

Attendance: 61,327.