Tottenham took a big step towards a place in the Europa League final after a dazzling first-half display earned them a 3-1 win at home to Bodo/Glimt in their last four first leg tie.
Brennan Johnson struck after only 38 seconds to appease an expectant home crowd before James Maddison fired a second for Ange Postecoglou’s men in the 34th minute.
A third followed through Dominic Solanke from the penalty spot after 61 minutes as Spurs put their poor Premier League form to one side to produce another stirring display in Europe.
Yves Bissouma, only included due to the surprise injury absence of Lucas Bergvall, held off Ole Didrik Blomberg by the Bodo penalty area and teed up Pedro Porro, who picked out Richarlison and his cushioned header was nodded in by Johnson at the back post.
The decibel levels inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium went through the roof and chants of Bilbao were almost followed by a second goal, but Maddison volleyed over under pressure after Cristian Romero’s exquisite ball over the top.
Micky van de Ven was next to send an effort over for Spurs from another Maddison corner before the electric pace of the game started to calm.
Bodo had penalty appeals waved away just before the half an hour mark after Isak Dybvik Maatta went down softly with Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie in close proximity.
Udogie fired off target moments later as Postecoglou’s team upped the intensity again and it resulted in a second goal in the 34th-minute.
After van de Ven helped out Bentancur deep inside Tottenham’s half, Porro carried the ball forward and produced a sensational pass over the top for Maddison, who controlled and steered his effort into the bottom corner beyond Nikita Haikin.
More songs about Bilbao occurred and Bentancur was denied a third when his fizzing half-volley was pushed over before Blomberg fired over for the visitors.
Postecoglou made a change at the break with Mathys Tel introduced for Richarlison before Johnson won Spurs another dangerous free kick.
Romero failed to get on the end of Maddison’s initial free kick but was first to the second ball and went down after being caught by Fredrik Sjovold.
Referee Jose Maria Sanchez initially ignored Tottenham remonstrations, but was told by VAR to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and duly pointed to the spot.
Maddison held onto the ball before it was passed to Solanke, who sent Haikin the wrong way to make it 3-0 after 61 minutes.
That was Maddison’s last telling contribution as he limped off in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel before Spurs supporters’ chanted against much-maligned chairman Daniel Levy for the first time.
Solanke was next to be forced off but only after Romero was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for an off-the-ball shove on Jostein Gundersen.
Given Bodo’s ominous home form, Postecoglou urged Tottenham to keep playing and Udogie had a shot saved before Dejan Kulusevski and Tel had efforts deflected wide.
Spurs were then hit with a sucker-punch as Bodo captain Saltnes reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute when he worked a yard of space and had a shot deflected off Bentancur, but Tottenham earned a 3-1 victory to move a step closer to the final.
Ange Postecoglou backed Tottenham to get the job done in Norway after they took a big step towards a place in the Europa League final with a 3-1 last-four first leg win over Bodo/Glimt.Spurs’ domestic struggles had been well-documented, but a sea of white flags and a tifo with club motto ‘To Dare is to Do’ greeted the team for only its second semi-final in a European competition ...
Ruben Amorim told his players that the job is not done despite Manchester United taking a giant step towards the Europa League final with a memorable away win at 10-man Athletic Bilbao.A return to San Mames for the May 21 showpiece against Bodo/Glimt or, more likely, Tottenham is within touching distance having seen out an early storm against a side desperately seeking to reach the final at their ...
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Manchester United are on course to reach the Europa League final after Ruben Amorim’s side blew away 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in a stunning semi-final first leg in Spain.The Red Devils’ worst-ever Premier League campaign has meant it has long been a case of Bilbao or bust for them, with the May 21 showpiece back at the Basque outfit’s San Mames stadium.Athletic’s dreams o...
Chelsea all but ensured they will play in the Conference League final on May 28 as Nicolas Jackson’s two goals helped them sweep past Djurgarden 4-1 in Stockholm.The second leg at Stamford Bridge will be little other than a formality after this win, which also saw Jadon Sancho score just his fourth Chelsea goal while Noni Madueke got in on the act too.Djurgarden proved as weak as any opponen...
Nottingham Forest’s Champions League dream suffered a huge blow after they were beaten 2-0 by Brentford at the City Ground.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have looked a strong bet to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition after a brilliant season and they could have moved up to third in the Premier League with a win.But they faltered as goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa i...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Harry Maguiredinho vs Athletic Club Man Utd & Tottenham this season Nop Partey No Party Barca 3-3 Inter last night Harry Maguire against Athletic Club. Harrydinho. That's how you start the first leg of a European Semi-final lol Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, PL__OOC)...
Manchester City are monitoring a number of goalkeepers ahead of the summer transfer window including FC Porto's Diogo Costa amid renewed uncertainty surrounding Ederson's future, a source has told ESPN.Ederson was close to moving to the Saudi Pro League last summer, and there is an expectation that the Brazil international will have more offers at the end of this season.A source has told ESPN that...
Newcastle United face an uphill task to convince Dean Huijsen to move to St James' Park.Huijsen is the hottest property in the Premier League after a breakout season for Bournemouth.He is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium in the summer transfer window.Newcastle are in the market for a centre-back, despite handing Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar new contracts.The i Paper understands they hav...
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