Returning to a familiar place, a mere five months since the second leg semi-final Europa League contest at Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham Hotspur returned to the Nordic pitch and narrowly escaped embarrassment with a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.
As important changes were made to the side — with Kevin Danso in for Cristian Romero — Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson got the nods to be the wingers for the night as Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus took to the bench for the first half.
Bodo/Glimt recorded the first major chance of the match four minutes in as Patrick Berg ripped a dipping knuckleball right into the direction of Guglielmo Vicario, which forced the Italian keeper to punch the ball out for a corner. This would be the first of many dangerous chances from the home side as Tottenham had its lone chance in the first half come a mere four minutes later.
Nicking the ball off his man and leading a quick counter-attack, Lucas Bergvall delivered a beautiful low driven cross into the direction of Richarlison at the back post. Trying to time his run for an easy tap-in, the pass took the slightest of touches that ruined the timing for the Brazilian striker to get a sure-fire goal for Spurs.
Holding an 8-4-1 record in their last 13 European matches, Spurs looked bleak throughout the rest of the first half as last-ditch tackles kept the side in the game, even with a rash two-footed sliding challenge from Rodrigo Bentancur that gifted Bodo a penalty opportunity. That penalty, taken from the Europa League’s top goal scorer, Kasper Waarts Høgh, was fired over the bar to keep the game leveled at 0-0.
Surviving every Bodo/Glimt chance in that first half, Spurs continued to let the Norwegian side dictate the attacking threat early in the second half as the home side got the well-deserved lead by way of a Jens Petter Hauge control and cut into the box for a far post shot that beat Vicario.
Down 1-0, Spurs believed they had leveled the game two minutes after going down with Rodrigo Bentancur redirecting Brennan Johnson’s shot on goal. But, VAR took a look at a possible foul in the build-up on the first delivery from Pedro Porro’s set piece, which hit the post. Watching the replay and circling in on a tug of the shirt from Micky Van de Ven, the head official went to the monitor and overturned the goal for the foul on Micky. Irate at the call, Van de Ven lost his cool as his rash challenge towards the right touchline earned him a yellow card.
Forced to make changes in hopes of adding some attack-minded guys — ones who weren’t afraid of wanting the ball - Simons and Kudus came on and instantly made impacts. Simons won a free kick a minute onto the pitch, and Kudus won a corner, but with terrible deliveries from Spurs, Bodo were able to capitalize once more.
Using the high press and winning the ball off a poor clearance from Vicario, and a touch from Djed Spence, Bodo/Glimt found Jens Petter Hauge yet again at the top of the box. Using his left foot this time, the Norwegian recorded the brace and a 2-0 lead with 20 plus minutes to go.
Down 2-0, Spurs were finally able to cut into the lead off a set piece as Van de Ven headed in a beautiful ball from Pedro Porro to give hope for the side to take something from this match.
Subbing on Archie Gray and having fresh legs in the midfield, the Englishman made an instant impact as Spurs broke the high press of Bodo/Glimt and made their way down the pitch. Getting a through ball off the wing and running with it in stride, Gray sent in a low cross for a streaking Richarlison near post. With the keeper coming out and making an attempt to save it, the ball bounced off his leg and right onto the path of Jostein Gundersen for an own goal.
Yet again, VAR had a check on the goal, with the video assistant reviewing whether the ball had not only hit Richarlison’s hand but also whether the Brazilian was onside. Spending more than three minutes going into extra time of the match, VAR ruled the goal onside as Richarlison stayed onside and didn’t touch the ball.
Both sides went for the win in the end as Bodo/Glimt had a chance to win it but fired a curler over the bar, and Wilson Odobert had a running header that hit the post.
Coming away with a 2-2 draw and a point in the second week of the Champions League group stage, Spurs sit fourth in the table. However, today’s performance was a dreadful watch, and the side has several things to clean up if they want not only to survive the group stage of the Champions League but also to be a side that can win games with ease. Not something that is normally said as a Spurs supporter, but today’s game continues to leave some doubts about the direction of the side. Thomas Frank will have to find new ways to get the side up from the opening minute, and that task will be on Saturday when the side travels to Elland Road for a 7:30 est kickoff with Leeds United