"Our claim is the best."
Tottenham won 3-1 against Bodø/Glimt (Norway) in the first leg of the semifinals of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) held on the 2nd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England (Korea time).
With this victory, Tottenham succeeded in scoring multiple goals ahead of the away second leg on the 9th. Bodø/Glimt has not lost a single home match in this season's UEL. In addition to Norway's cold climate, the characteristics of artificial turf play a significant role.
In fact, this semifinal is a crucial match for both the "miracle team" Bodø/Glimt and Tottenham, who hold the "last hope of the season." Bodø/Glimt is the first Norwegian team to reach the semifinals in the history of European men's club competitions. They gained unstoppable momentum by defeating Lazio in the quarterfinals on penalties.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou does not see their journey as mere coincidence. He said, "It’s no surprise that they have made it this far. They showed incredible performance against my Celtic team two years ago." In fact, during the playoff of the 2022 UEFA Conference League, Bodø/Glimt completely defeated Postecoglou's Celtic 5-1 on aggregate.
Moreover, Tottenham is desperate for the UEL trophy this season. Since winning the League Cup (current Carabao Cup) in the 2007-2008 season, they have not experienced a title in official competitions. This season, they recorded a historically high 19 losses in the league, underscoring their all-in approach for the UEL title.
Meanwhile, ace Son Heung-min was unable to participate in this match. He missed the final training the day before, resulting in his absence. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison formed the attacking line. James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Yves Bissouma played in midfield. The defense was built by Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro. The starting goalkeeper was Guglielmo Vicario.
With Son Heung-min absent, Tottenham took the lead just 1 minute into the match when Richarlison, positioned as a left winger, made a header assist from the right flank, allowing Johnson to finish with a header.
Against a weaker opponent, Tottenham maintained a one-sided offensive. In the 34th minute, Maddison made a sudden penetration into the space behind the defense. He then received a timely pass from Porro and attempted a turning shot, adding another goal.
The first half ended with Tottenham leading 2-0. In the 61st minute, a penalty kick was won when Romero was fouled, and Solanke took the penalty to extend the lead to 3-0.
However, their good momentum was disrupted once again by injuries. In the 64th minute, Maddison collapsed without a clash with an opponent. He sat on the field and could not get up, ultimately being substituted by Dejan Kulusevski. Additionally, Solanke also felt discomfort and left the field in substitution for Wilson Odobert.
After several substitutions, Tottenham's concentration wavered. Ultimately, Bodø/Glimt's Ulrik Saltnes evaded two Tottenham defenders and his shot found the back of the net, leading to a consolation goal. As a result, Tottenham now heads into the away match against Bodø/Glimt with an uneasy lead.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min, who missed the match, cheered on the players from the bench alongside Rad Dragusin. Dressed in casual clothes, he reacted to the players' performances with applause. Especially when Tottenham players scored, he celebrated as if he had scored a goal himself.
Tottenham's official social media posted a photo of Son Heung-min celebrating, expressing their admiration with the words "SONNY, our everything." It remains to be seen whether Tottenham players can unite and pave the way to the finals for Son Heung-min, who is currently absent.
In fact, this behavior from Son Heung-min shows how much he focuses on the team's performance over individual statistics. A Tottenham fan reacted with, "Our captain SONNY, we have to reach the finals for him," while another said, "Son Heung-min's bright smile, honestly, when he smiles, I feel so good too."
[OSEN]