Bodo/Glimt Stages Dramatic Extra-Time Comeback to Overcome Twente and Secure Last 16 Spot

For the first time in their history, FK Bodo/Glimt has reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League, showcasing remarkable resilience as they overturned a 2-1 aggregate deficit. They triumphed over FC Twente with an emphatic 5-2 victory after extra time in a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats for the entirety of the 120 minutes at the chilly Aspmyra Stadium.

Located just north of the Arctic Circle, the stadium’s notorious conditions have led many teams to underestimate the Norwegians during this time of year.

Having been awarded a 95th-minute penalty in the first leg, Bodo/Glimt nearly levelled the aggregate score within three minutes of kick-off, as a teasing cross from Ole Didrik Blomberg almost resulted in an own goal by Bart van Rooij.

Goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall was alert, preventing the ball from drifting in and, just five minutes later, he kept his side in the hunt by denying Jostein Gundersen’s powerful header from a corner.

In the 25th minute, Twente thought they had earned a penalty after claiming that Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s shot struck Villads Nielsen’s arm, but referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez awarded a corner instead.

Just when the visitors believed misfortune was their lot, Michel Vlap delivered a corner that was inadvertently diverted into his own net by Fredrik Sjovold, extending the Tukkers’ aggregate advantage to 3-1.

Before the first half concluded, Jens Petter Hauge nearly netted an equaliser with a firm header but he was thwarted by Unnerstall once again.

Ten minutes into the second half, Bodo/Glimt managed to equalise, thanks to a VAR decision that spotted a foul by Gustaf Lagerbielke on Hakon Evjen in the box.

Looking for his fourth goal of the tournament, Kasper Hogh confidently converted the penalty straight down the middle, bringing the score level for the night.

Lagerbielke nearly made up for his earlier mistake in the final 20 minutes when he met a corner at the back post, but his header hit the woodwork. As Bodo/Glimt searched for a late winner, they faced a resolute defence from Joseph Oosting’s men.

Then, in the second minute of added time, a deflected cross from Brice Wembangomo was inadvertently turned into his own goal by Mees Hilgers.

With the match heading to extra time, Wembangomo wasn’t finished yet, striking from 25 yards just a minute later to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Twente surged forward in a desperate bid to salvage the tie, and amid chaos in the Bodo/Glimt penalty area, Sem Steijn managed to poke the ball over the line, sending the match into extra time.

Following a frenetic conclusion to the regulation 90 minutes, both sides struggled to assert themselves in the opening period of extra time.

However, six minutes into the second period, a corner from the home team was directed by Odin Luras Bjortuft towards Sondre Brunsted Fet, who made no mistake in driving the ball past Steijn before he could intervene.

The tie was definitively secured three minutes later when Fredrik Andre Bjorkan delivered a precise ball across the six-yard area, resulting in a third own goal of the night as Arno Verschueren inadvertently touched it in.

As a result, Twente faced their first away defeat in Europe this season, while Bodo/Glimt made history by advancing from a European knockout tie after losing the first leg for the first time.