Bodo/Glimt took a commanding step towards the Europa League semi-finals with a resounding 2-0 victory over Lazio in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Thursday, thanks to a brace from Ulrik Saltnes.
The Norwegian side were nothing short of dominant in the freezing conditions and will feel slightly disappointed not to have taken an even more emphatic lead into the return fixture in Rome.
Despite creating a host of clear-cut chances, Bodo/Glimt had to rely on two sublime finishes from Saltnes in the second half to secure the win.
Saltnes had multiple opportunities to complete his hat-trick, while teammates Jens Petter Hauge and Odin Bjortuft also missed golden chances.
Nevertheless, with a two-goal cushion in hand, Kjetil Knutsen’s men travel to the Stadio Olimpico in a strong position.
From the opening whistle, Bodo/Glimt controlled the tempo and carved open Lazio’s defence repeatedly. Hakon Evjen and Ole Didrik Blomberg both failed to convert promising chances, leaving the teams level at the break.
However, the pressure finally told just two minutes into the second half. “Hauge found Blomberg near the edge of the D, and his delicate, first-time pass picked out Saltnes for a clever reverse finish.”
The home side continued to pile on the pressure, with Saltnes squandering two more opportunities and Hauge missing a sitter before the second goal arrived in the 69th minute.
“From near the left corner of the box, Hauge scooped a delicious pass into the path of Saltnes, who lifted the ball beyond the onrushing Christos Mandas, with Alessio Romagnoli failing to clear it off the line.”
Saltnes came close to sealing a hat-trick but was denied by Mandas, while Bjortuft’s header went straight at the Lazio keeper, sparing the Italian side an even heavier defeat.
Making their debut appearance in a Europa League quarter-final, Bodo/Glimt looked completely unfazed by the occasion.
They registered 18 shots to Lazio’s six,16 of them from inside the box—and dominated possession with 58.4%, alongside an impressive expected goals tally of 2.88 to 0.34.
The only blemish on an otherwise superb night was their inability to convert more chances. Still, Knutsen will surely be satisfied with a 2-0 advantage ahead of the second leg.
