Almost eight months have passed since Tottenham’s lost in the North London derby, a painful defeat which inspired Ange Postecoglou to remind the world he always claims a trophy in his second season.
So, the timing seemed appropriate. On the day after Arsenal slithered out of the Champions League, Postecoglou’s Spurs are Bilbao bound. One step closer to fulfilling that promise.
Inside the Arctic Circle, the man from Down Under must have felt on top of the world. He has taken plenty of criticism this season and here he is with a date in the Europa League final.
Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro scored the goals to help the Londoners kill off the threat of Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt. Solanke pounced to convert from close range after a knock down from a corner just after the hour.
Porro scored with a cross six minutes later, but they all count, and this one counted plenty, extending the aggregate lead to 5-1 and finally convincing a boisterous home crowd that this was the night when their adventure would end.
Tottenham go on to the Basque Country in northern Spain on Wednesday week in search of their first major trophy since 2008, their first in Europe since they won the UEFA Cup in 1984.
Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro scored for Tottenham in an impressive away win
The striker scored in the 63rd minute to put the tie beyond any reasonable doubt
A cross from Porro flew in off the far post to put Spurs 2-0 up on the night and 5-1 on aggregate
Bodo/Glimt have made something a habit of embarrassing illustrious visitors to their humble home with its artificial surface.
They drenched it with powerful water jets before kick-off despite a couple of hours of steady rain and the ball travelled across the surface followed by an arc of spray.
Unsurprisingly, Bodo/Glimt settled quickest, cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, many of them kitted out in bright yellow rain ponchos like sowesters and seemingly undeterred by the 3-1 first-leg deficit.
There was a quiet confidence about the Norwegians, with three players back form suspension including captain Patrick Berg, whose grandfather is club legend, with a statue outside the Aspmyra Stadium.
And the feeling was encouraged by the early exchanges, with their team forcing a corner, which found its way to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who slammed their first effort of the game into the side netting.
Tottenham were wearing a similar shade of sage green to the one they wore six years ago to the day, on a famous night in Amsterdam when Lucas Moura’s hat trick completed a remarkable comeback and sent Spurs into the Champions League final.
Perhaps it focused the minds. They defended deep, keeping the ball carefully when they had it and seeking to test the patience of their hosts. As they did for much of the game in Frankfurt, the second leg of the quarter final and the standout display of this European campaign.
Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur screened the back four with Postecoglou tweaking his usual 433 into a 4231 shape. Tottenham’s players all took their time getting the ball back into play and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario often kicked long rather than invite Bodo/Glimt to press them.
It was a lively atmosphere but the Bodo/Glimt fans saw their side well beaten in the end
It was a tight, combative first half but neither team could find a way through
Going forward, Spurs had promising situations without creating a clear chance. Richarlison, preferred to Mathys Tel on the left wing, had an early effort saved and Brennan Johnson almost converted a low cross by Destiny Udogie.
Bodo ‘keeper Nikita Haikin pushed a free-kick over by Porro over after a foul on Solanke.
Small signs of success included a yellow card for centre-forward Kasper Hogh for dissent shown after a foul was awarded against him in midfield.
There were minor alarms, such as when Vicario was almost caught out of his goal, but Tottenham made it through to half time without a major scare and with the two-goal advantage intact.
They had the last chance of the first half when a corner spilled to Bissouma, just outside the penalty area. Bissouma’s eyes lit up, but he could not keep his shot down and over it sailed.
Tottenham will now face Manchester United in an all-English Europa League final
Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run in the competition is over but they massively overachieved
Udogie was back on his goal line to make a vital block soon after the interval. An inswinging cross took a deflection and deceived almost everyone but the left back was in the right place to divert it away from goal.
Bodo took heart once again as Postecoglou paced about in the rain, hands sunk into the pockets of his winter coat
Tottenham were finding it more difficult to get out and exert any meaningful pressure by this stage.
They were simply repelling one attack after another and hope Solanke might forage them something on the counterattack. They needed a change and when Postecoglou sent on Tel for Richarlison it quickly paid dividends.
Tel took the corner from which Spurs broke the deadlock. Romero headed it down and Solanke was alert to stab it into the net from close range. Suddenly, all the noise came form a damp corner of the ground where the Tottenham fans were singing about Bilbao.
Postecoglou’s next change sent on Pape Matar Sarr to reinforce the midfield. And was Sarr who set Porro in motion for the second of the night.
Porro charged forward from right back looking to swing over a cross, but it swerved over ‘keeper Haikin and in off the far post.
There was no way back for Bodo/Glimt. They had a penalty awarded and overturned in stoppage time but it made no difference.
Spurs are on their way to Bilbao. Closing in on that elusive trophy and Postecoglou is one win from extending his proud record.
