Proper then, how tough is that this synthetic pitch? What sort of ice storm may Bodo/Glimt summon for the arrival of Tottenham subsequent week? As a result of the underdogs from the sting of the Arctic Circle are going to wish as hostile an surroundings as attainable if they’re to show this Europa League semi-final round. Within the first leg, Spurs made full use of their residence benefit: a convincing 3-1 win, solely dampened by a late deflected strike by Bodo’s stand-in captain Ulrik Saltnes, has Tottenham with one foot within the remaining and introduced a smile to the face of Ange Postecoglou.
It could possibly be Manchester United vs Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 Could, assuming the groups positioned 14th and sixteenth within the Premier League don’t make a multitude of their first-leg benefit. However, based mostly on Tottenham’s return to type in Europe and discounting their Premier League struggles, it’s going to be a great distance again for the Norwegian champions. They a minimum of began the restoration when Saltnes rolled by way of a few Tottenham challenges and fired previous Gianluigi Vicario with 10 minutes remaining.
If there have been some late nerves, there can be way more ought to Bodo strike early on once they return to their residence floor. “The purpose is de facto necessary,” mentioned Bodo’s supervisor Kjetil Knutsen. “When Tottenham conceded, they misplaced power and it gave us power. I believe we are able to take the power from this sport into the subsequent sport and it’s completely totally different for us to play at residence. We have now a possibility right here. We’re not the favourites however we are going to go for it.”
Tottenham had been maybe responsible of switching off, on account of the gulf there had been till that time on this semi-final. “I do not suppose the scoreline displays our dominance within the sport at this time,” Postecoglou mentioned. It regarded that approach from as early as 41 seconds in, when Brennan Johnson opened the scoring, and was evident in each contact from the stylish James Maddison – one of the best participant on the pitch whose second-half knee harm Postecoglou hoped was “nothing too serious”.
Maddison had fronted as much as Tottenham’s points this season pre-match, calling their campaign “embarrassing” after 19 Premier League defeats. However he additionally mentioned that the dressing room is behind Postecoglou and his gamers delivered for him as soon as once more when it mattered most. One way or the other, their season might come all the way down to 90 minutes in Bilbao and will finish with a primary trophy since 2008, Postecoglou vindicated on the final.
As Dominic Solanke walked in Tottenham’s third from the penalty spot, that intoxicating risk felt a bit extra actual. It has been a very long time since Postecoglou’s workforce had this stadium rocking like tonight. “The efficiency was every thing it wanted to be,” Postecoglou mentioned. “If we repeat that efficiency subsequent week will probably be sufficient for us to get by way of.”
There was little or no proof of their lowly place within the Premier League desk earlier than kick-off on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which on heat spring nights like it is a magnificent stage for European soccer. Spurs had saved their power for the Europa League, barely turning up as they witnessed Liverpool’s title celebrations on Sunday, and the wall of noise rolling of the South Stand was befitting of an enormous evening for the membership and Postecoglou.
It was a historic event for the guests, with the travelling contingent from the Arctic Circle forming a pocket of yellow within the nook. The much-repeated truth in regards to the city of Bodo this week was that you may match its whole inhabitants contained in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and nonetheless have 20,000 empty seats. Maybe they are going to really feel extra at residence subsequent week, as Spurs head to their 8,000-capacity floor and plastic pitch.
However in north London, Bodo had been overawed. The guests had nothing to concern after knocking out Lazio within the quarter-finals however they had been with out suspended captain Patrick Berg and his midfield associate Hakon Evjen. Earlier than kick-off, your complete workforce and training workers congregated on the touchline for a pre-match huddle. A minute later, Bodo huddled once more, dissecting a nightmare begin after Johnson nodded in on the again publish after simply 41 seconds.
Charged by the ambiance, Spurs launched straight right into a direct assault. “Our supporters had been excellent tonight,” Postecoglou mentioned. “They added power to the workforce. Even us scoring the early purpose got here from the truth that as quickly because the boys walked on the market was a buzz. It’s a credit score to our followers. We’ve clearly had a troublesome season however the European nights have been fairly particular.”
Bodo may don’t have any complaints about Yves Bissouma’s problem on Ole Blomberg and it set the tone for a primary half the place Tottenham had been merely quicker and stronger. Maddison pulled the strings in midfield, releasing Johnson, Solanke and Richarlison time and time once more with clipped passes excessive. Bodo tried to play intricately from the again nevertheless it suited Spurs on an evening the place their press clicked into gear and Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur dominated midfield.
The second purpose was coming and Maddison, who had a annoyed phrase with Richarlison after one too many squandered alternatives, seized it after 34 minutes. Maddison had received behind the Bodo defence to obtain a protracted move within the opening levels and repeated the run to convey down Porro’s wonderful lofted ball excessive. His management was beautiful and he delayed the slightest second to open the angle earlier than ending into the nook.
Bodo wanted to attain the subsequent purpose. As an alternative, Spurs had been introduced with a present when Fredrik Sjovold caught Romero within the field. Solanke rolled the penalty into the nook to spark triumphant celebrations on the hour.
For Bodo, it seemed to be a step too far, however there was some late hope. Saltnes had flashed a half-volley over the bar simply earlier than half time however Gianluigi Vicario was untroubled till the midfielder labored some house within the field and his shot took a spark off the diving Bentancur to beat the Tottenham goalkeeper.
Maybe their outstanding journey from the Norwegian second-tier to the Europa League semi-finals just isn’t achieved but. They are going to have their suspended gamers and influential midfielder Berg accessible subsequent week too. However Postecoglou performed down the importance of their late purpose, and the substitute pitch that awaits them. Barring a rare collapse within the Arctic, Tottenham can be assured of there being a minimum of one English workforce within the Europa League remaining.
“It’s nonetheless a sport of soccer,” Postecoglou mentioned. “I’ve been there, I’ve performed there with Celtic, I do know the expertise. What’s necessary for us is that we have to replicate what we did at this time. Regardless of the floor, if we’re as disciplined and organised with and with out the ball, it will not matter what the floor is, it will make it actually troublesome for us to be stopped.”
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