7 hours Ago
Nobody expected this to be a simple night for NEC. Bodø/Glimt have built a strong reputation on the European stage under coach Kjetil Knutsen, most notably last season when they stunned Italian champions Inter Milan on their way to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Early Scare and a Slow Start
The match began cautiously before a dramatic moment arrived in the 11th minute, when Bodø were awarded a penalty after the ball struck Bryan Pereira's arm. A VAR check, however, revealed that Jens Petter Hauge had also handled the ball just before it hit Pereira, and the decision was scrapped.
Bodø showed glimpses of the quality that took them deep into last season's competition. In the 17th minute, a well-worked move nearly ended with Andreas Helmersen heading home, only for goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz to make a fine stop. NEC responded soon after, with Tjarron Chery forcing Nikita Haikin into a save that was pushed away for a corner in the 22nd minute.
The breakthrough for the visitors came in the 25th minute. Hauge slipped a pass through to Sondre Brunstad Fet, who finished neatly into the near corner to put Bodø ahead. Chery almost leveled things on the half-hour mark with a low effort that Haikin did well to gather at the second attempt.
NEC's best opening of the first half fell to Noe Lebreton in the 34th minute, after Chery whipped in a dangerous cross. Unfortunately for the home fans packed into the sold-out Goffert stadium, the ball slipped through Lebreton's legs without contact.
Bodø Take Control Before the Break
That miss proved expensive. Just before halftime, referee Francois Letexier awarded a second penalty after defender Tobias Storm pulled back Ole Blomberg inside the box. Storm was booked for the challenge, and Helmersen calmly slotted the spot kick down the middle to make it 2-0.
NEC came out flat after the break, and Bodø punished them again just five minutes into the second half. A corner delivered by Patrick Berg, whose name has been linked with a move to Ajax, was met by centre-back Haitam Aleesami, who headed home unchallenged to extend the lead to 3-0.
Late Fightback Falls Short
For much of the second half, Bodø looked comfortable and arguably should have added to their tally, appearing content with how the tie was shaping up. Their clearest chances came from a spell of quick passing between Sondre Auklend and Berg, which created openings for Ola Brynhildsen and Helmersen. Both attempts were blocked by Darko Nejasmic, who again stood out as one of NEC's top performers on the night.
That relaxed approach nearly cost Bodø late on. NEC pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when Adam Tahaui's cross was flicked on by Dusan Tadic to Bischoff, who slid the ball home from close range. Moments later, NEC came agonizingly close to a second, as Bischoff's cross found substitute Kevin Kers, whose header struck the post before strike partner Kaj Sierhuis failed to reach the rebound.
With the Eredivisie schedule giving NEC the weekend off, Schreuder's side now has time to prepare for a daunting second leg. Bodø's home ground is played on artificial turf, a surface that has troubled many visiting teams, and NEC will need to overturn a two-goal deficit to keep their Champions League dream alive.
