Postecoglou’s Spurs take control in Europa semi

Tottenham closed successful connected a spot successful the Europa League last aft Brennan Johnson struck conscionable 38 seconds into their 3-1 win against Norwegian broadside Bodo/Glimt connected Thursday.

Johnson’s quick-fire opener was followed by James Maddison’s strike earlier the interval successful the semi-final archetypal limb astatine the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Dominic Solanke’s second-half punishment should person been the extremity of the tie.

But a precocious extremity from Ulrik Saltnes ensured the 2nd limb connected May 8 will beryllium a tense juncture for beleaguered Tottenham brag Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou will besides person to sweat connected the fittingness of Solanke and Maddison aft some limped disconnected with injuries.

If Tottenham tin get the occupation done successful Norway, they will look Manchester United oregon Athletic Bilbao successful the last connected May 21, with the tournament winners qualifying for the Champions League adjacent season.

United are connected people for the last aft winning 3-0 successful Bilbao successful the archetypal leg.

“We’re successful a bully position. I thought the players were outstanding. They were everything they needed to be, truly calm going guardant and maintained the pressure,” Postecoglou said.

“Bodo/Glimt scored a precocious goal, so the scoreline didn’t totally bespeak our dominance.

“We person to judge that but if we repetition that show adjacent week it will beryllium capable for us to get through.”

An all-Premier League clash successful the last would contiguous a fascinating duel betwixt two clubs enduring miserable home campaigns.

Languishing successful 16th spot successful the Premier League, Tottenham’s woeful 5-1 thrashing astatine Liverpool connected Sunday was a nine record-equalling 19th decision successful the top formation this season.

They person not suffered so galore losses successful a Premier League run since 2004.

Despite their abysmal top-flight form, Tottenham should scope their archetypal European last since the 2019 Champions League arsenic they bid to extremity a 17-year trophy drought.

Tottenham, whose past trophy was the League Cup, haven’t won a large European prize since lifting the UEFA Cup successful 1984.

Postecoglou believes the “general sentiment” astir shot is helium will beryllium sacked adjacent if helium wins the Europa League to fulfil his boast that helium ever lifts a trophy successful his 2nd season.

The verdict is not yet successful connected Postecoglou, but this was an important infinitesimal successful his bid to prevention his job.

An unheralded team from a small town northbound of the Arctic Circle, Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale tally is not implicit conscionable yet, but they person a immense task successful the 2nd leg.

“The extremity was truly important. You saw when Tottenham conceded they were truly disappointed and mislaid energy,” Bodo/Glimt brag Kjetil Knutsen said.

“It is totally antithetic successful the 2nd game. We still person a bully opportunity. We are not the favourites but we will spell for it.”

Maddison stars

Knutsen had masterminded an awesome tally for a broadside from a sportfishing town with a colonisation of hardly 50,000, taking the underdogs past Lazio successful the quarter-finals and Olympiakos successful the past 16.

However, Postecoglou’s determination to callback Richarlison paid instant dividends arsenic Tottenham took the pb successful the archetypal minute.

Pedro Porro’s transverse reached Richarlison wrong the Bodo/Glimt country and the Brazilian cleverly headed crossed to the unmarked Johnson, who nodded location from adjacent range.

Johnson’s 17th extremity successful each competitions this play was the fastest scored successful the Europa League this term.

Maddison admitted this week that Tottenham’s dismal show astatine Liverpool was “embarrassing”, but the midfielder insisted the team still backed their boss.

And helium did his spot to assistance Postecoglou’s origin successful the 34th minute.

Porro’s superb agelong walk dropped into Maddison’s way connected the borderline of the country and helium took a touch earlier drilling a good decorativeness past Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.

Tottenham struck again successful the 61st infinitesimal when Fredrik Sjovold’s rash situation connected Cristian Romero was ruled a punishment aft VAR intervened.

Solanke stepped up to nonstop Haikin the wrong way from the spot.

But successful typical Tottenham fashion, they faltered successful the 83rd minute.

Bodo/Glimt’s lone changeable connected target climaxed with Saltnes being talented too overmuch space for a strike that deflected successful disconnected Rodrigo Bentancur to springiness the Norwegians a lifeline.

Source: Agence France-Presse