"Let's win for Son Heung-min."

Tottenham won 3-1 against Bodo/Glimt (Norway) in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) semifinals held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on Dec. 2 (Korean time).

With this victory, Tottenham succeeded in scoring multiple goals ahead of the away second leg on the 9th. Bodo/Glimt has not lost a single home game in this season's UEL. In addition to Norway's cold climate, the artificial turf has proven to be a significant factor.

In fact, this semifinal is important for both Bodo/Glimt, the "miracle team," and Tottenham, which holds the "last hope of the season." Bodo/Glimt is the first Norwegian team to reach the semifinals in the history of European men's club competitions. They gained momentum by defeating Lazio in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou does not see their journey as coincidental. He noted, "It's not surprising that they have come this far. They showed incredible performance against my Celtic team two years ago." In fact, during the UEFA Conference League playoffs in 2022, Bodo/Glimt defeated Postecoglou's Celtic 5-1 (aggregate).

Moreover, Tottenham is desperate for the UEL trophy this season. They have not experienced success in an official tournament since winning the League Cup (now the Carabao Cup) in the 2007-2008 season. The team has set a record of 19 losses in the league this season, meaning they are all in for the UEL and are aiming for the championship.

Meanwhile, ace Son Heung-min could not participate in the match. He missed the final training session the day before, leading to his absence. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison formed the attacking lineup. James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Yves Bissouma played in midfield. The defense was comprised of Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro. The starting goalkeeper was Guglielmo Vicario.

Without Son Heung-min, Tottenham took the lead early in the match. In the first minute, Richarlison, who started as a left winger, connected a header from a cross that came in from the right side, allowing Johnson to finish with a header for the opening goal.

Against a weak opponent, Tottenham carried on with overwhelming pressure. In the 34th minute of the first half, Maddison momentarily penetrated the space behind the defense. He received a pass from Porro and attempted a turning shot, scoring an additional goal.

The first half ended with Tottenham leading 2-0. In the 16th minute of the second half, a foul against Romero resulted in a penalty kick, which Solanke converted, extending the lead to 3-0.

However, the good momentum was disrupted once again by injuries. In the 19th minute of the second half, Maddison collapsed without a collision with an opponent. He sat down on the field and could not get up, eventually being substituted by Dejan Kulusevski. Additionally, Solanke also felt discomfort and left the field for Wilson Odobert.

Following the consecutive substitutions, Tottenham's concentration wavered. Ultimately, Bodo/Glimt's Ulrik Saltnes broke through two Tottenham defenders and his shot went straight into the goal, resulting in a consolation goal. Consequently, Tottenham faced an uneasy lead ahead of the challenging away match against Bodo/Glimt.

Meanwhile, Son Heung-min, who was absent from the match, cheered on the players from the bench alongside Rad Dragusin. Dressed in civilian clothes, he applauded each action made by the players. In particular, he reacted as if he had scored whenever a Tottenham player found the net.

Tottenham's official social media shared a photo of Son Heung-min celebrating, expressing respect for him with the caption, "SONNY, our everything." It remains to be seen whether the Tottenham players can unite to pave the way for a final for Son Heung-min, who is currently sidelined.

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