UEL: Bodo/Glimt Makes History with Epic Comeback Victory Over Twente

Bodo/Glimt reached the Europa League last 16 for the first time after a thrilling extra-time victory over Twente, completing a stunning comeback from a first-leg deficit.

FK Bodo/Glimt made history by advancing to the UEFA Europa League's last 16 for the first time, completing a stunning comeback against FC Twente. The Norwegian side overturned a 2-1 aggregate deficit with a thrilling 5-2 victory after extra time at the Aspmyra Stadium.

The Aspmyra Stadium, located just north of the Arctic Circle, proved to be a challenging venue for FC Twente. The harsh winter conditions and Bodo/Glimt's determination combined to make for an intense 120 minutes of football. Despite the initial aggregate deficit, the Norwegian hosts showed remarkable resilience to demolish Twente 5-2 in extra time.

FK Bodo/Glimt, still reeling from the 95th-minute penalty conceded in the first leg, nearly drew level on aggregate within three minutes of the second leg. Ole Didrik Blomberg's teasing cross almost led to an own goal by Bart van Rooij, but goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall intervened just in time.

Unnerstall continued to thwart Bodo/Glimt's efforts, producing a spectacular save to deny Jostein Gundersen's powerful header from a corner just five minutes later. The visitors, FC Twente, then pushed forward, seeking to capitalize on their aggregate lead. In the 25th minute, they appealed for a penalty when Ricky van Wolfswinkel's shot appeared to strike Villads Nielsen's arm, but the referee awarded only a corner.

The corner proved fruitful for Twente, as Michel Vlap's delivery was inadvertently diverted into his own net by Fredrik Sjovold, increasing the visitors' aggregate lead to 3-1. Bodo/Glimt pushed hard for a response before halftime, with Jens Petter Hauge coming closest to scoring with a planted header, but Unnerstall once again denied the hosts with a crucial save.

FK Bodo/Glimt finally drew level 10 minutes into the second half, thanks to a VAR intervention. The technology spotted a foul by Gustaf Lagerbielke on Hakon Evjen inside the box, and Kasper Hogh calmly converted the resulting penalty down the middle to equalize the score on the night.

As the match entered its final 20 minutes, Lagerbielke nearly made amends for his earlier mistake. He met a corner at the back post, but his header ricocheted off the post. At that moment, it seemed that Bodo/Glimt's efforts to find a late winner would be thwarted by Twente's resolute defending.

However, the home side's fortunes changed dramatically in the second minute of added time. A cross from Brice Wembangomo took a deflection and was turned into his own net by Mees Hilgers, sending the match into a frenzied state. But Wembangomo was not done yet, and just a minute later, he unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike to turn the tie around in breathtaking fashion.

Twente refused to give up, throwing bodies forward in a desperate bid to save the tie. Amid the chaos in the Bodo/Glimt penalty area, Sem Steijn managed to force the ball over the line, sending the match into extra time and prolonging the drama.

Bodø/Glimt progress after extra time 😲#UEL pic.twitter.com/T5ixAXCBlJ

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 20, 2025

The frantic pace of the match's final minutes gave way to a more subdued first period of extra time, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage. However, the home side's persistence eventually paid off in the second period of extra time.

Six minutes into the second period, a corner kick for Bodo/Glimt was knocked down by Odin Luras Bjortuft to Sondre Brunsted Fet, who swiftly swept the ball over the line before Sem Steijn could intervene. This goal proved to be the decisive blow in the tie.

The outcome was sealed just three minutes later when Fredrik Andre Bjorkan delivered a low cross into the six-yard box. In a cruel twist of fate, Arno Verschueren inadvertently touched the ball into his own net, marking the third own goal of the evening. This mistake sent Twente crashing out of the competition, handing them their first away defeat in Europe this season.

Bodo/Glimt, on the other hand, celebrated a historic victory, becoming the first team in the club's history to progress from a European knockout tie after losing the first leg.