Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the Europa League final against Manchester United with a composed performance, overcoming Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate to keep their pursuit of a first European trophy in 41 years alive.
Ange Postecoglou’s side successfully navigated the semi-final second leg in Norway, with second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro ensuring their progression to the club’s sixth European final, their first since the 2019 Champions League. The all-English final against Manchester United is scheduled for May 21 in Bilbao.
Tottenham, whose last major honour was the League Cup in 2008 and whose last European success was the UEFA Cup in 1984, are now one match away from substantiating Postecoglou’s September claim that he invariably wins silverware in his second season at a club – a statement that had drawn some scepticism during a challenging domestic campaign that sees Spurs in 16th place in the Premier League.
Despite the absence of injured key players James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, and Heung-min Son, Tottenham expertly managed the tie. Holding a 3-1 advantage from the first leg, they limited Bodo/Glimt, who were playing in their first-ever European semi-final, to minimal clear-cut opportunities on their artificial home pitch. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario notably saved a free-kick from Patrick Berg in a tight first half.
The second half saw Tottenham assert greater control. Dominic Solanke extended their aggregate lead in the 63rd minute, finishing from close range after a knockdown from Cristian Romero. Six minutes later, Pedro Porro’s looping cross found the net, effectively ending Bodo/Glimt’s hopes. A late penalty awarded to the Norwegian side was subsequently overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR).
For Bodo/Glimt, the first Norwegian club to reach a major men’s European semi-final, the campaign ended in disappointment but also provided valuable experience. Despite a spirited atmosphere created by the home supporters, Kjetil Knutsen’s team, a dominant force in Norwegian football, could not sufficiently test their Premier League opponents. The club, however, is seen as having strong potential for future European success.
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