BODO (BN24) — Tottenham Hotspur snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday, as a last-minute own goal from Jostein Gundersen denied the Norwegian side their first-ever win in Europe’s top competition.
Local hero Jens Petter Hauge scored a brace to give Bodo/Glimt a 2-1 lead in the second half, and it seemed the debutants were set for a historic victory. However, with the clock ticking down, Tottenham’s persistence paid off in the 89th minute, when Gundersen’s unfortunate own goal leveled the score and salvaged a point for Spurs.
The match was a repeat of last season’s Europa League semi-final, where Spurs triumphed 5-1 on aggregate. However, this time, it was the hosts who looked to be in control for much of the encounter. The result leaves Tottenham on four points from two matches in Group D, following their opening win over Villarreal, while Bodo/Glimt now have two consecutive 2-2 draws after their late equalizer at Slavia Prague.
Bodo/Glimt, playing at home for the first time in the Champions League, quickly took the initiative. They dominated possession in the opening half, and the referee awarded them a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur fouled Fredrik Andre Bjorkan in the box. However, Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh continued his penalty woes, sending the spot-kick over the crossbar — following a similar miss against Slavia Prague on matchday one.
Spurs were pinned back for much of the first half, unable to break out of their own half as Bodo/Glimt’s attacking pressure continued. It took until the 53rd minute for the hosts to get the breakthrough when Hauge curled a beautiful shot past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to give Bodo/Glimt a deserved lead.
Tottenham responded immediately, and Pedro Porro’s free-kick hit the post just two minutes later. Bentancur was on hand to turn in the rebound, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Van de Ven during the buildup.
Bodo/Glimt extended their lead in the 66th minute when Hauge scored again, this time with a powerful left-footed shot that sailed past Vicario after he breezed past Porro on the edge of the box. The Norwegian fans erupted, sensing a famous victory for their team.
But Tottenham refused to give up. Two minutes later, Micky van de Ven made amends for his earlier mistake by heading in a perfect cross from Porro, narrowing the gap to 2-1. Spurs continued to press, and with just five minutes remaining, substitute Wilson Odobert’s header was tipped onto the crossbar by Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.
The drama didn’t end there. With just seconds left in regulation, the Spurs forced the equalizer when Haikin made a save, but the ball ricocheted off Gundersen’s stomach and trickled over the line. After a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal was confirmed, leaving Bodo/Glimt heartbroken at the last-minute twist.
The final whistle came shortly after, with both teams walking away from a thrilling encounter. For Tottenham, it was a late escape, while Bodo/Glimt will rue their missed opportunities but still take pride in an impressive performance.
Spurs will look to bounce back in their next Champions League fixture, while Bodo/Glimt will continue their historic European adventure, with their eyes set on another positive result in their next match.
