Bodø/Glimt Secures Comeback Win Over Maccabi in UEFA Europa League

Bodø/Glimt's win over Maccabi guarantees a seeded position in the knockout play-off phase, as the Norwegian club continues to make waves in the UEFA Europa League.

Asmir Høgh played a crucial role in FK Bodø/Glimt's thrilling comeback victory over Maccabi, securing a 3-1 win in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) league phase. This triumph marked Bodø/Glimt's fourth win in the competition, ensuring they will occupy a seeded position in the knockout play-off phase at the very least.

Bodø/Glimt's success in the UEL is a testament to their growing dominance in Norwegian football. Having claimed their first-ever Eliteserien title in 2020, the club has since secured four of the last five domestic crowns, solidifying their status as Norway's premier club. With their sights now set on making a significant impact on the continental stage, Bodø/Glimt is poised to take their success to new heights.

Things didn't go as planned for Bodø/Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadion, as Maccabi Haifa took a surprising lead in the 12th minute. Dor Turgeman expertly brought the ball down and played a precise through ball with the outside of his right boot, allowing Dor Peretz to run onto it and score with ease.

Bodø/Glimt's slow start may have been attributed to their domestic league ending in early November, but they managed to recover well and threatened to equalize just 10 minutes later. Isak Dybvik Määttä's powerful header from six yards out crashed against the crossbar, narrowly missing the target. However, the Den Gule Horde persisted and eventually found the equalizer six minutes before halftime.

The equalizing goal came when Patrick Berg's whipped free-kick was met by an unmarked Kasper Høgh at the back post, who headed the ball home to level the score. This momentum carried into the second half, and with just under half an hour remaining, Bodø/Glimt took the lead. Central defender Jostein Gundersen made a decisive run from the back, unchallenged, before sliding the ball to Håkon Evjen, who took one touch before finishing high into the net.

The win was effectively sealed three minutes later when Berg's attempted cross hit Tyrese Asante's hand, resulting in a penalty. Høgh comfortably converted the spot-kick, securing the three points for Bodø/Glimt. This victory propelled the team into ninth position, temporarily above Manchester United, although Ruben Amorim's side has a game in hand.

The result has severe implications for Maccabi Haifa, who now face the prospect of being eliminated from the UEFA Europa League altogether. Languishing in 29th place, Maccabi Haifa has a daunting fixture against Portuguese giants Porto next week, making their task even more challenging.