Tottenham in control as they take two goal lead to Bodo/Glimt
DRIVING SEAT: Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammates. Pic: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Tottenham have one foot in the final of the Europa League, which is likely to be against Manchester United, but nothing can be taken for granted with a tricky away leg to come on Bodo Glimt's plastic pitch next Thursday.
Brennan Johnson, James Madison and a Dominic Solanke penalty gave Tottenham a three-goal lead after an hour, but they allowed Ulrik Saltnes to score a late goal with Bodo Glimt's only shot on target, which gives the Norwegians hope going into next week's second leg.
It was a much better display by Ange Postecglou's side, who have been dire in the league, but there is still work to be done if they are to reach their first European final since 1984, when they won this competition with a two-legged victory over Anderlecht.
Last night, Spurs got off to the perfect start when Johnson headed them in front barely 30 seconds after kickoff. Yves Bissouma hustled the ball to Pedro Porro on the right, and the Spaniard cross towards Richarlison at the far post. The Brazilian, a surprise inclusion, could have gone for goal but instead cushioned his header back across goal, where Johnson was unmarked to head home from close range.
The home support, already hyped up by pre-match razzamatazz, went up several decibels and the Norwegians looked understandably stunned, to the extent they formed another huddle to regroup before kicking off.
To their credit, they regained their poised and managed to play their way back into the game, not buckling under pressure, and restricted Tottenham to a handful of half-chances for the next half-hour.
Maddison should have scored in the sixth minute when he raced on to Cristian Romero's lofted pass from deep, but flicked the ball over Nikita Halkin's bar with the outside of his boot. Richarlison burst into the penalty area but hit a tame shot straight at the Russian keeper, and Bissouma volleyed horribly high.
Maddison was majestic in midfield for Tottenham, running the show and dictating the pace, and then got forward to score their second goal, in the 34th minute. Porro lofted the ball into the twilight zone between goal-line and 18 yard line, and Maddison made a smart run ahead of Dominic Solanke, controlled the ball expertly and still had the presence of mind to place his shot between a scrambling Halkin and two defenders, and into the corner of goal.
Spurs were not firmly in control of the tie, and would have gone farther ahead before half-time but for a brilliant save by Halkin, who dived full length to tip away a fierce volley from Rodrigo Bentancur.
Bodo were not playing badly, considering they were missing three key players through suspension, but Tottenham were simply better. The Norwegian side had seen off Lazio in the previous round, and in first-half stoppage time showed a glimpse of the dangers they pose when Ole Didrik Blomberg beat Bentancur to a low cross but clipped his half-volley over the bar.
Postecoglou made a switch at half-time, sending on Mathys Tel for the tiring Richarlison, and Spurs increased their lead just after the hour mark. At a corner, Romero tried to control a clearance when defender Fredrik Sjovold caught him in the back of the ankle. Referee Jose Maria Sanchez needed VAR's intervention to review the incident on a pitchside monitor before awarding a penalty, which Solanke rolled into the net after sending Halkin the wrong way. Maddison was withdrawn injured soon afterwards, and Bodo finally started to put pressure on the home defence, which buckled in the 82nd minute when Ulrik Saltnes wriggled his way into a shooting position, the ball going in off a sliding Bentancur.
Spurs had chances to increase their lead ahead of a tricky return leg next week, playing on the plastic pitch at Bodo's stadium. Destiny Udogie had a shot saved after a surging run down the left, Romero headed just wide from a corner and Tel wasted a good chance.
When five minutes of added time was announced, it was the time for Tottenham's supporters to become nervous, given their side's notorious fragility, but the last chance of the game fell to Dejan Kulusevski, who flashed his shot wide of the far post.
Tottenham take a two-goal lead to the Arctic Circle for next Thurday, and if they can freeze out the Norwegians, will be in their first European final for 41 years.
: Vicario 6; Porro 7, Romero 6, Van de ven 7, Udogie 7; Bentancur 7, Bissouma 7; Johnson 6, Maddison 8 (Kulusevski 65), Richarlison 7 (Tel 46); Solanke 7 (Odobert 75).
: Halkin 8; Sjovold 6, Gundersen 6, Nielsen 5 (Auklend 46), Bjorkan 6; Brunsted Fet 6 (Jensen 77), Hauge 6, Saltnes 7; Maatta 6 (Moe 65), Hogh 6, Blomberg 6 (Serli 77).
Jose Maria Sanchez (Spain) 8/10
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