Bodo/Glimt Knock Inter Out of Champions League

With a stunning 2-1 victory at the San Siro in their playoff second leg on Tuesday, Bodo/Glimt eliminated last season’s champions Inter Milan from the Champions League, sending the Norwegian underdogs to the round of 16 5-2 overall.

After shocking Inter with a 3-1 victory in the first leg in Bodo, Jens Petter Hauge’s rebound goal in the 58th minute doubled the visitors’ aggregate lead, and 14 minutes later, Haakon Evjen put an end to the match.

With incredible wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their last two league-phase games, the Arctic Circle team has been the competition’s fairytale tale this season.

The Norwegian team selected the same starting lineup for the rematch after defeating Inter in the opening leg of the competition, making it three straight victories.

They were the first Norwegian team to advance from a knockout encounter in the competition on what turned out to be a rather comfortable evening. They hardly looked in danger of missing out on their first Champions League last-16 berth.

Pio Esposito headed over from a cross inside the first few minutes as the home crowd urged them forward, putting Inter ahead right away.

After fifteen minutes, Marcus Thuram came close with a curler as Inter dominated the first half.
However, the score was still tied at halftime despite the home team’s constant pressure.

as the restart, Inter kept up their pressure and had a penalty claim for handball denied as Fredrik Sjoevold blocked Manuel Akanji’s attempt. The VAR agreed with the referee’s decision to deny a spot kick.

Ole Didrik Blomberg grabbed a wayward pass on the outskirts of the Inter area and surged for goal in the 58th minute as the visitors scored after constant pressure. Hauge was the first to react and convert the rebound from close range after Yann Sommer blocked his shot away.

Although Alessandro Bastoni scored a goal for Inter in the 77th minute, it was too late to change the outcome. Evjen sealed the victory in the 72nd minute with a crisp right-footed shot into the far bottom corner.