Tottenham Seize Commanding Advantage Over Bodo/Glimt in Europa League Semi-Final First Leg
Tottenham Hotspur have taken a significant step toward securing a place in the Europa League final after securing a convincing 3-1 victory over Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their semi-final clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The North London club wasted no time in stamping their authority on the match, with Brennan Johnson delivering an electrifying start by scoring the fastest goal in Europa League semi-final history—just 38 seconds after kickoff. The Welsh winger connected with a pinpoint cross and powered a header past the stunned Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into an early frenzy.
Spurs continued to dominate possession and carved out several promising chances. Their persistence was rewarded in the 34th minute when playmaker James Maddison doubled the lead. Maddison timed his run perfectly to meet a brilliant delivery from Pedro Porro and calmly slotted the ball home, showcasing the fluid attacking football that Ange Postecoglou has instilled in his side this season.
The pressure mounted on the visitors in the second half, and things went from bad to worse for Bodo/Glimt when Tottenham were awarded a penalty just after the hour mark. Striker Dominic Solanke stepped up confidently and converted the spot-kick in the 61st minute, giving Spurs what appeared to be an unassailable 3-0 lead.
However, Bodo/Glimt refused to go down quietly. Ulrik Saltnes pulled one back late in the game, offering a lifeline to the Norwegian side and injecting some hope ahead of the return leg. His goal was a moment of pride for the visiting supporters and a reminder that the tie is not yet over.
Following the match, Saltnes struck a defiant tone in his post-match interview with Norwegian broadcaster Viaplay, as reported by NRK. The midfielder claimed that Tottenham were showing signs of vulnerability and promised a fierce response when the two teams meet again in Norway.
“I don’t remember exactly what happened when I scored, but now the tie is alive again,” said Saltnes. “I think they’re pretty shaky now. We’re going to gather all the energy we have and come out flying in the second leg!”
Bodo/Glimt defender Jostein Gundersen also addressed the media, expressing pride in his team’s resilience despite a tough start and a number of injury problems that plagued their preparation. “We got off to the worst possible start, but considering all the issues we had going into the match, I think the performance was good,” he said. “We have people missing, and I’m damn proud to be a Glimt player today. It’s almost emotional what we were able to do.”
Gundersen added that his team is looking forward to welcoming Tottenham to the Aspmyra Stadium for the second leg. Confident in their ability to rise to the occasion on home soil, he said: “We will welcome them to Aspmyra. We know we can compete with this team. There are good opportunities for us.”
Despite Bodo/Glimt’s spirited talk, former Spurs player and club legend Glenn Hoddle believes Tottenham have what it takes to finish the job in the second leg. Speaking after the game, Hoddle backed the Premier League side to find the net again in Norway and put the tie beyond doubt.
The decisive second leg is scheduled to take place at the Aspmyra Stadium on May 8. Should Tottenham progress, they will book a place in the Europa League final, which is set to be played in Bilbao on May 21.
