Tottenham survive a storm in Norway | OneFootball

A late own goal from Jostein Gunderson earned Spurs a point in the Champions League despite a dominant display from Bodo/Glimt.

Two goals from Jens Petter Hauge in the second-half put the Norwegian side 2-0 up by the 66th minute. Two minutes later Mickey Van de Ven pulled one back for Spurs and an 89th minute own goal levelled the score.

Bodo were on top of Spurs throughout, limiting the north London side to very few chances, but they fell just short of getting revenge on the side who knocked them out of the Europa League last May.

When Tottenham travelled to northern Norway in May both sides were one game away from European glory in the Europa League. This time the two sides met in just the second round of matches in the Champions League. Despite this, the atmosphere from the Bodo fans early on could have deceived viewers into believing this was the final.

Bodo came out of the blocks quickly in their first ever home Champions League match. Patrick Berg’s fourth minute strike from 25 yards out was tipped over the crossbar by Guglielmo Vicario. Despite the early Bodo pressure, it was instead Richarlison who had the biggest chance to break the deadlock in the early stages. Wilson Odobert’s cross found the Brazilian at the back post but he failed to cleanly connect with the ball which eventually rolled into the grateful hands of Nikita Haikin.

Tottenham could not get a foot on the ball in the early stages and Vicario was the only goalkeeper forced into any meaningful saves in the opening 25 minutes. Alongside the early effort from Berg, Odin Bjortuft’s header was claimed by the Italian just under the bar, with the goalkeeper lucky that the Bodo defender’s effort was not further in the corner.

And 32 minutes in, the Norwegian side thought they’d made their pressure count. Fredrik Andre Bjorkan broke in behind Pedro Porro on the left and Rodrigo Bentancur flew in late on the full back. Referee Ivan Kruzliak did not hesitate as he pointed to the spot but just as the Bodo fans waited for the net to ripple, Kasper Hogh fired well over the bar of Vicario’s goal.

Hogh’s miss from the spot did not stop Bodo from continuing to dominate proceedings. Minutes later Fredrik Sjovold cut inside Porro on the edge of the area and fired just inches wide of the post.

As the half entered its final stages, all 11 of Thomas Frank’s players were penned into their own half with Bodo continuing to hold the ball. Van de Ven’s pace kept Spurs in the game as he tracked back to stop Sjovold racing through on goal 42 minutes in, before Sondre Brundstad Fet had a golden chance to put his side ahead. The ball fell to the midfielder eight yards out from Vicario’s goal but similarly to the penalty, it was ballooned over.

And just seven minutes into the second-half Bodo broke the deadlock through an excellent effort from Hauge. His strike from 18 yards out nestled beautifully in the far corner of the goal and gave the Norwegian side a well-deserved lead.

Spurs thought they had pulled the lead back instantly as Johnson’s shot flicked off Bentancur and into an empty net after Porro’s free kick had hit the post. However, the referee was instructed to look at the monitor and ruled the goal out for a shirt pull by Van de Ven in the build up.

Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus were brought on by Frank to add some creativity to Spurs’ attacks but it was Bodo struck again next. Hauge was again the perpetrator of Spurs’ ill fortune as his shot cannoned into the corner from the edge of the area 66 minutes in. Vicario could do nothing about the strike.

After a half devoid of any hope for Spurs, Van de Ven gave the north London side a way back into the game from another Porro free-kick, which had been causing the Bodo defence trouble all night. This time it counted for Tottenham as the Dutchman nodded the ball past Haikin.

Odobert came close to bringing Spurs level in the 85th minute hitting the woodwork from a Kudus cross but it would instead be a slice of luck that would get Frank’s men level.

With 89 minutes on the clock Archie Gray ran in behind the Bodo defence and his saved shot rebounded off Gunderson into his own net.

Spurs saved the game late for the second consecutive match, after performing poorly throughout. Nevertheless a point away from home in the Champions League could prove to be beneficial as they look to qualify for the next round.