Tottenham took a significant step toward the final after Brennan Johnson scored just 38 seconds into a 3-1 first-leg victory over Norway’s Bodo/Glimt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Johnson’s early strike set the tone, with James Maddison doubling the lead before halftime in what looked to be a comfortable evening for the north London club.
Dominic Solanke added a third from the penalty spot in the second half, seemingly putting the tie to bed.
However, a late goal by Ulrik Saltnes kept the Norwegian side’s dreams alive and set up a tense return leg on May 8.
Adding to the tension, both Solanke and Maddison were forced off with injuries, leaving Postecoglou sweating over their availability.
Should Spurs finish the job in Norway, they’ll book a place in the final on May 21, where either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao await.
The victor will also earn a spot in next season’s Champions League.
United, meanwhile, look likely to progress after a 3-0 first-leg win in Bilbao. If both English sides advance, the final will become an all-Premier League affair between two clubs experiencing turbulent domestic seasons.
Tottenham’s league campaign has been dismal, they sit 16th and are reeling from a 5-1 thrashing by Liverpool last weekend, marking their 19th league defeat this season, matching a club record from 2004.
Despite their league struggles, Spurs are on the cusp of their first European final since the 2019 Champions League and aiming to end a 17-year trophy drought.
Their last silverware came with the League Cup win, while their last major European title was the UEFA Cup in 1984.
Postecoglou, aware of growing scrutiny, has acknowledged the skepticism surrounding his future, he believes the “general sentiment” is that he’ll be dismissed even if he delivers the Europa League title, which would fulfill his own claim of winning trophies in his second season at a club.
For Bodo/Glimt, the fairy tale continues. The modest club from a fishing town above the Arctic Circle made history as the first Norwegian side to reach the semi-finals of a major European competition, remarkable feat for a town of just 50,000 people.
Postecoglou knew better than to underestimate the Norwegians, having suffered defeat against them while managing Celtic in the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League.
Their coach, Kjetil Knutsen, who masterminded that earlier upset, has guided his team past Olympiakos and Lazio in previous rounds this season, solidifying their giant-killer reputation.
Spurs made an explosive start after Postecoglou brought Richarlison back into the lineup. The Brazilian met Pedro Porro’s cross with a clever header into Brennan Johnson’s path, and the Welsh forward nodded in from close range for his 17th goal this season, the fastest goal in the Europa League this term.
Maddison, who earlier this week called Tottenham’s performance at Anfield “embarrassing” but maintained support for the manager, followed up with a vital contribution in the 34th minute. “The team still backed their boss,” he insisted.
The midfielder capitalized on Porro’s precise long pass, cushioning it before driving a crisp finish past Bodo/Glimt keeper Nikita Haikin.
Tottenham nearly extended their lead moments later when Rodrigo Bentancur’s fierce strike was acrobatically saved by Haikin.
The third goal came in the 61st minute, courtesy of VAR, which flagged Fredrik Sjovold’s reckless challenge on Cristian Romero as a penalty. Solanke made no mistake from the spot, sending Haikin the wrong way.
But Spurs couldn’t keep a clean sheet, conceding in the 83rd minute. Saltnes, left unmarked, struck what was Bodo/Glimt’s only shot on target, and his effort deflected off Bentancur to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.
While Spurs remain in control, history and their habit of faltering suggests nothing is guaranteed ahead of the second leg in Norway.
