Tottenham took a big step towards a place in the Europa League final after a dazzling first-half display earned them a 3-1 win at home to Bodo/Glimt in their last four first leg tie.
Brennan Johnson struck after only 38 seconds to appease an expectant home crowd before James Maddison fired a second for Ange Postecoglou’s men in the 34th minute.
A third followed through Dominic Solanke from the penalty spot after 61 minutes as Spurs put their poor Premier League form to one side to produce another stirring display in Europe.
Bodo had penalty appeals waved away just before the half an hour mark after Isak Dybvik Maatta went down softly with Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie in close proximity.
Udogie fired off target moments later as Postecoglou’s team upped the intensity again and it resulted in a second goal in the 34th-minute.
Postecoglou made a change at the break with Mathys Tel introduced for Richarlison before Johnson won Spurs another dangerous free kick.
Romero failed to get on the end of Maddison’s initial free kick but was first to the second ball and went down after being caught by Fredrik Sjovold.
Referee Jose Maria Sanchez initially ignored Tottenham remonstrations, but was told by VAR to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and duly pointed to the spot.
Maddison held onto the ball before it was passed to Solanke, who sent Haikin the wrong way to make it 3-0 after 61 minutes.
That was Maddison’s last telling contribution as he limped off in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel before Spurs supporters’ chanted against much-maligned chairman Daniel Levy for the first time.
Solanke was next to be forced off but only after Romero was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for an off-the-ball shove on Jostein Gundersen.
Bodo’s captain Saltnes reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute when he worked a yard of space and had a shot deflected off Bentancur, but Tottenham earned a 3-1 victory to move a step closer to the final.
