A late own-goal denied FK Bodo/Glimt their first win in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) proper after a timely equaliser rescued a point for an under-par Tottenham Hotspur in the first UCL league phase or group stage match on Norwegian soil in 17 years.
It may have been a rematch of last season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL) semi-final in which the English team triumphed, but for the opening 45 minutes, the Norwegians seemed out to avenge those defeats.
The home side’s domination should have resulted in them taking the lead in the 35th minute, when Rodrigo Bentancur brought down Fredrik Andre Bjorkan in the area while attempting to stop the latter’s cross from the byline.
This presented Kasper Høgh the chance to fire home his team’s first UCL goal, but the Danish striker blasted his penalty over.
Even the spurning of such a great chance could not knock the Norwegians out of their stride, and before the first half was over, they had twice gone close to getting the goal their play deserved.
Jens Petter Hauge fizzed his shot just wide of the post from the edge of the area, before Sondre Brunstad Fet hammered an effort into the ether from eight yards out.
Anyone expecting a Spurs’ reaction after the break was in for a rude awakening, as not only would Kjetil Knutsen’s side remain on top, but they would go one better and take the lead.
Hauge found a pocket of space inside the Tottenham area and curled a dream of a strike into the far corner to etch his name into Glimt history.
Tottenham’s reaction when it came was swift but stunted, as Betancur’s nonchalant flick looked to have drawn the visitors level, only to be ruled out for a shirt pull by Micky van de Ven in the build-up.
Hauge then spectacularly doubled his tally in the 66th minute, as he dropped his shoulder to make space and thrashed a left-foot strike into the bottom corner.
With the Aspmyra Stadion rocking, Van de Ven deflated the atmosphere somewhat as he headed home from Pedro Porro’s cross to set up a thrilling finale. A late flurry from the visitors saw Wilson Odobert head against the bar, with Jostein Gundersen’s late, unfortunate intervention breaking Norwegian hearts, as the ball ricocheted off him and into the net in time added on.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jens Petter Hauge (FK Bodo/Glimt)