In a remarkable feat, Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals for the first time in history by beating Italy’s Lazio in a dramatic penalty shootout. This makes a memorable moment for Norwegian football.
The battle in the quarter finals was fierce. Bodo/Glimt had taken a 2-0 lead from the first leg but Lazio came out fighting in the return leg, where they scored three goals through Taty Castellanos, Tijani Noslin and Boulaye Dia. Bodo/Glimt’s Andreas Helmersen equalized with a goal in the additional time and the match finished in 3-3. Near the end of yet another crazy game that saw Andreas Helmersen sent off with a red card, his extra time goal forced the penalty kicks in the first place.
Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was the hero of the shootout, saving the last two penalties to help secure a 3-2 victory for his side. Haikin’s journey has been an interesting one, having played for clubs across Spain, Russia, Israel and England.
The victory ignited celebrations across Norway with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store congratulating the team on social media and recognizing their achievement for Norwegian football.
This has been a wonderful journey for Bodo/Glimt in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League. This year launched the new play format, a 36 team league phase replacing the prior group stage. Each team played eight matches against eight different opponents, the top eight teams advanced to the round of 16.
In the semi-finals, Bodo/Glimt will play against English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur on May 1 and May 8. The winner will go to the final on May 21 at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain. The winner of the Europa League will qualify for the UEFA Champions League and will participate in the UEFA Super Cup.
Bodo/Glimt’s unprecedented accomplishment is not only an enhancement to the club but also a recognition of the rise in importance of Norwegian football on the European stage.
