Tottenham booked their place in the Europa League final as they clinched a 5-1 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt with a 2-0 victory in the second leg in northern Norway.
Spurs had taken control of the tie in north London last week with a 3-1 first-leg triumph, though Bodo’s late goal in that game provided them with hope of producing a turnaround at Aspmyra Stadion, where they have a formidable record.
Indeed, Bodo had won their last five Europa League home matches, each by a margin of at least two goals, but Tottenham never looked like succumbing to a second-leg collapse.
Dominic Solanke effectively put the tie out of Bodo’s reach in the 63rd minute and Pedro Porro doubled the lead on the night soon after, clinching a spot in a sixth European final for Spurs, who will face Manchester United in the final in Bilbao as two teams who have endured wretched domestic seasons face off for the trophy and a place in the Champions League.
Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham
Though Bodo dominated possession as they looked to produce a famous fightback, chances were few and far between in the first half.
Pedro Porro forced Nikita Khaikin to tip over the crossbar from a free-kick right on the edge of the area, while Guglielmo Vicario had to be alert to turn over Patrick Berg’s free-kick just after the half hour.
Bodo were more threatening in terms of their delivery into the box after the break, but their inability to take advantage of their control was punished by Solanke.
Cristian Romero was afforded too much space to nod down Mathys Tel’s corner to Solanke, who reacted quickly to prod home from point-blank range.
The lead was doubled just six minutes later in fortuitous fashion, Porro’s cross from the right somehow eluding Khaikin and bouncing in off the left-hand post.
Tottenham were comfortable thereafter, with a deflated Bodo unable to craft any kind of response.
It looked as if Bodo would at least have a chance for a consolation late on when Porro was ruled to have brought down Sondre Sorli in the area, only for the referee to be sent to the pitchside VAR monitor for a review, with a closer inspection revealing the defender had made no contact with Sorli as he went to ground.
That summed up a frustrating night for the hosts, but one the hardy hordes of Tottenham supporters who braved the freezing rain in the article circle will never forget.
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