Postecoglou threatens to have last laugh as Tottenham reach Europa League final

Daily Mirror

09-05-2025

BODO/GLIMT 0-2 TOTTENHAM (1-5): Spurs booked their ticket to Bilbao as goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro capped another professional European victory in Northern Norway
Ange Postecoglou "always" wins a trophy in his second season - and now Bilbao-bound Spurs are just 90 minutes away from ending their gruelling 17-year wait for silverware. The hard-nosed Aussie's dauntless September remark has persistently been used as a stick to beat him with throughout Tottenham's never-ending domestic struggles. French giants PSG have even won as many matches (five) as Spurs versus Premier League opposition in 2025 but Postecoglou is now threatening to have the last laugh as he stands on cusp of salvation after his side comfortably weathered Bodo/Glimt's second-leg barrage on an awkward artificial pitch.
Some 1824 miles from the Tottenham High Road, 80km north of the Arctic Circle in chilling conditions, Spurs finally rediscovered their sense of belonging as second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro fired them into the Europa League final.
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Say it quietly but having already beaten Manchester United on three separate occasions this season, there's cautious optimism glory is well and truly within their grasp.
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Bodo/Glimt defender Jostein Gundersen had attempted to light the pre-match touch paper by claiming Spurs were "not the best team in the world in defence," but Tottenham, who utilised their big-name experience, were rarely troubled across either tie and nobody can dispute they're worthy of a place in a showpiece European final following a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory. The population of picturesque Bodo is just 53,712 meaning you could pack out the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the municipality's residents and still have 9138 seats left to spare. Unsurprisingly, the yellow-filled 8,270-seater Aspmyra Stadion was bursting at the seams, 50,000 home supporters threw their hat into the ballot for the final 480 tickets and one unsuccessful punter later traded five kilos of boknafisk, semi-dried fish worth £182, in exchange for admission.
But, however good Bodo/Glimt's tifo looked, it was hardly a cauldron of noise and Spurs, who calmly navigated a difficult, deafening atmosphere in Frankfurt, quickly realised that and soon began to feel at home. They flew out of the traps, first Richarlison had an early effort blocked before Destiny Udogie lashed a dangerous delivery across the face of goal. Guglielmo Vicario, who revealed on Wednesday night he has not played on an artificial surface in five years, looked self-assured, receiving two first-half warnings from referee Maurizio Mariani for time-wasting as the Italian began to get under the skin of the tetchy crowd. Bodo/Glimt, winners of four Norwegian Eliteserien titles in the past five seasons, were set on writing more history having already previously executed impressive scalps over Lazio, Olympiacos, Besiktas, Porto, Jose Mourinho's Roma (6-1) and Big Ange's Celtic under highly-rated boss Kjetil Knutsen. Vicario was equal to Patrick Berg's free-kick before top-scorer Kasper Hogh headed over from close range. Spurs survived a second-half scare when Fredrik Bjorkan's deep cross caused panic at the far post but they grabbed a precious opener when sub Mathys Tel's corner was first met by the head of Cristian Romero before being stabbed in by the grateful Solanke. Porro then added a second six minutes later when his cross looped right over Bodo goalkeeper Nikita Haikan and flew in off the post. The Spaniard has since admitted he did not go for goal but Spurs, who have received little luck all season, will welcome a rare slice of good fortune.