UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
SEMI-FINAL (2nd Leg)
THURSDAY 8TH MAY, 2025
(8pm - BST)
BODO/GLIMT 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)
(Spurs win 5-1 on aggregate)

Spurs scorer(s):-
Solanke, 63
Pedro Porro, 69

Attendance:- 8,030

Referee:- Maurizio Mariani
Assistants: Daniele Bindoni & Alberto Tegoni
Fourth official:- Matteo Marchetti
VAR:- Marco Di Bello
Assistant VAR:- Michael Fabbri
(All officials from Italy)

Teams:-
Bodo/Glimt (4-3-3):- 12. Haikin; 20. Sjovold, 18. Moe (Sub 2. Nielsen, 71), 6. Gundersen, 15. Bjorkan; 26. Evjen, 7. Berg (Capt.), 14. Saltnes (sub 8. Auklend, 72); 11. Blomberg (sub 27. Sorli, 60), 9. Hogh (sub 21. Helmersen, 60), 23. Hauge (sub 25. Maatta, 84)

Subs not used:- 1. Lund (GK), 44. Brondbo (GK); 95. Kjaer; 19. Fet, 77. Hansen

Booked:- Hogh (dissent after foul on Van de Ven)

Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven, 13. Udogie; 21. Kulusevski, 8. Bissouma, 30. Bentancur; 22. Johnson (sub 29. Sarr, 68), 19. Solanke, 9. Richarlison (sub 11. Tel, 61)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin, 41. Whiteman; 4. Danso, 14. Gray, 24. Spence, 33. Davies; 47. Moore, 64. Olusesi; 28. Odobert, 63. Ajayi

Booked:- Johnson (foul on Hauge), Vicario (time)

Spurs are on their way to Bilbao!

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

On the sixth anniversary of Pochettino's heroes and their win in Amsterdam, Ange Postecoglou's Spurs won their Europa League semi-final, giving Spurs passage to a sixth European Final. For the third time, they will be facing English opposition, as Manchester United beat the potential hosts 7-1 on aggregate. Postecoglou's second season trophy is on!

Despite the enforced absences of Son, Maddison and Bergvall through injury, Ange was able to field his first choice back five. This was a highly competent, controlled, and professional team performance. There was excellent play and commitment in every position. In particular I thought the back four, along with Bissouma and Bentancur gave solidity and a foundation to build upon. Both full backs gave a driving performance. Pedro Porro even scored an astounding goal to confirm the win, after Dominic Solanke had opened the scoring.

In our 56th game of such a debilitating season, this was our 13th clean sheet. Two of those have been against Manchester United and five of which have been in our 14-game Europa League campaign.

The atmosphere pre-match in the little arctic community of Bodo had been hot. Their team had after all made history by reaching this semi-final. There was an element of nervousness for Spurs about the artificial playing surface (which had been heavily watered pre-match despite heavy rain), and after Bodo's late goal last week, regarding the possibility of an early goal for the home side.

To be honest, Bodo didn't really look like scoring in a goalless first half where Spurs forced goalkeeper Haikin to make a very good save, pushing Pedro Porro's free kick over the bar.

Spurs had been disturbed by 2.30am fireworks on the night before the game, and the pre-match fireworks added to the misty atmosphere around the cold and damp ground. Snow-topped mountains could be seen in the distance.

The only change to the Spurs team was Kulusevski for the injured Maddison. Bodo were able to include captain Patrick Berg, who is his side's talisman.

The home side kicked off and Spurs were playing towards their ardent band of some 400 fans, all of whom had been provided with scarves, laid out by the club pre-match.

Richarlison met an early cross by Pedro Porro beyond the back post and returned the ball to the danger zone, but that was cleared. Hauge won the first corner of the game and from that kick Blomberg hit the side netting with a shot, also from beyond the back post.

Udogie was up and down the line but failed with his cross from an early Kulusevski pass. Udogie did soon win Spurs' first corner. He was also on the end of a good move after another Pedro Porro cross and a Richarlison pass. Udogie's cross was dangerous this time but was cleared. I would argue that Udogie gave his best performance of the season in this game.

Berg fouled Solanke 22 yards out after 20 minutes, and it was at this stage that Haikin made the best save of the half from Pedro Porro's kick.

Bodo's current top scorer Kasper Hogh was shown one of only three yellow cards on the night by Italian referee Maurizio Mariani. The others were shown to Brennan Johnson, and Guglielmo Vicario.

Berg took a free kick which was patted away by Vicario. Hogh had a header go off target after a cross from the right by last week's scorer Saltnes. The referee was constantly nagging Vicario who was being jeered by the home crowd over the time he was taking at goal kicks.

Berg tried a pop at goal from the halfway line, but Vicario held this with ease. Haikin gave away a cheap corner at the other end, after which Bissouma fired over from Pedro Porro's kick.

Spurs kicked off the second half and played away from their fans. Solanke won an early corner, but there was danger for the Spurs defence when Bjorkan crossed from the left. Between them Van de Ven and Udogie cleared. Solanke won another corner and a third soon followed, with no end result. Richarlison lost possession after receiving a great long diagonal ball from Pedro Porro.

Bjorkan crossed again but Udogie was in control against Hogh. A round of substitutions by both sides included Mathys Tel for Richarlison. Haikin conceded another cheap corner and Spurs made him pay. Tel took this corner (right-footed from the left) and lifted the ball high. Romero rose magnificently and headed down where Solanke scored at close range with a stabbing shot. It was Dom's fifth goal in Europe this season. Spurs were three goals clear, and we could relax.

We doubled our score only six minutes later following a strong sweeping move. The ball was fed from the left and Kulusevski got the final touch before Pedro Porro's cross/shot beat Haikin and rebounded off the back post into the net. Intended or not, it was an astounding goal, and a tie-clincher!

There was no way back now for the Norwegian side who have made so many headlines this season, but who had failed to score at home (and lost) for the first time this year (in 7 games).

Sorli had a late 25-yard shot saved by Vicario, and there was last moment drama when the referee initially awarded a penalty against Pedro Porro for a foul on Sorli, but this was reversed by VAR and the referee's call to the monitor. Spurs had their clean sheet and could celebrate exuberantly with their happy band of loyal and deserving fans.

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

"Y Viva Espana! We're off to sunny Spain!" Let's hope we'll be bagging a trophy in Bilbao!

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

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