'Massively missed a trick': Spurs whacked with 'door ajar' for minnow opponents in Europa League semi
Updated . First published at
Ange Postecoglou's Spurs have been criticised for failing to put their Europa League semi-final tie against Bodø/Glimt out of reach in the first leg, following the side's 3-1 win at home.
Much of the reaction to the strong performance centred on the late goal conceded by Spurs in the 83rd minute, which gifted the Norwegian champions a lifeline ahead of next week's second leg.
To keep the Norwegians in the hunt, stand-in Bodø/Glimt captain Ulrik Saltnes pulled back a goal with a strike from a deflection that looped over Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
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Ulrik Saltnes scores for Bodø/Glimt against Tottenham. Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Speaking post-match, Postecoglou declared that the scoreline did not reflect his side's dominance during the encounter.
"At the end of the first leg, all you want is to be in a good position, and we've got ourselves into a good position," he said.
"If we repeat that performance next week, it'll be enough for us to get through".
Ange Postecoglou looks on. Getty
But European football expert Andy Brassell disagreed that the showing on Friday morning (AEST) was enough to put away the tie before travelling to the Norwegian Arctic.
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The shift in momentum at the end of the game set up a nervy finish for Tottenham, and three of Bodø/Glimt's key players will return from suspension for the second leg in star midfielder Patrick Berg, midfield counterpart Hakon Evjen and forward Andreas Helmersen.
"I think they can give [Tottenham] some sort of hurry up [in the second leg]," Brassell told Stan Sport from North London.
"I think Spurs have massively missed a trick here.
"The way they took their foot off the gas in the last 25 minutes. It's a game that they had the opportunity to win four or five-nil and then the tie is stone dead — just like the [Manchester] United one is.
"They did what Spurs have done so many times in Europe this season, they just took their foot off the gas for a little while against inferior opposition — like they did in AZ [AZ Alkmaar] if you go back a couple of rounds [and] they didn't quite push home the advantage they had against Eintract Frankfurt in the last round.
"They should be walking out of here tonight with this tie done, and it's not done.
"They've left the door ajar and I hope they don't regret it."
Australian football great Mark Bosnich agreed that Tottenham had failed to take advantage of the situation.
"It's now dangerous. It's in dangerous territory," he said.
"It was an opportunity there just to put it beyond doubt, you know?"
However, with the result, the Spurs still took a step towards reaching the Europa League final with an all-English decider with United likely.
The winner of the Europa League will qualify for the following season's lucrative Champions League — a feat Tottenham will not achieve from where it sits on the Premier League table after a disappointing domestic campaign.
Carrying a significant debt burden, qualifying for the Champions League would allow Spurs to retain more of their stars and be more active in the transfer market.
Without winning the Europa League, Tottenham will also not feature in any European competition next season.
The second leg of the Europa League semi kicks off at 5am next Friday (AEST).
