– It’s a bit strange that you should be disappointed after 2-2 away to Ajax. There are somewhat mixed feelings, but we must be able to say that it was a good performance, says two-goal scorer Albert Grønbæk (22) to Viasat. The Dane doubled the Glimt lead midway through the second half and last year’s Norwegian league champion looked set to sail in for yet another European feat. But in overtime, it completely unraveled for the yellow jerseys. First, centre-back Odin Bjørtuft made a penalty one minute into overtime, received a red card, and had to see the penalty go into the goal to make it 1-2. Then, seven minutes into overtime, Steven Berghuis equalized to make it 2–2. Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen expected an Ajax team that would go all out from the start. Instead, he saw his own team take the lead after just 16 minutes. Photo: AFP – It’s a lot of good things to take away and it’s a good starting point for a good football match at Aspmyra, says Bodø/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen at the press conference after the match. The draw away to Ajax means that the return match in Bodø in one week’s time is wide open. – It will be a new match on a track and surface that we are confident about. We are good at Aspmyra, but then there will be a number of tactical things that have to be considered, says Knutsen and continues: – Ajax is a very good team offensively and players with X-factor. We must be a team that both defends and attacks well. Then I think we can do a good job, Knutsen continues. – Small advantage Glimt news’s football expert Carl-Erik Torp lets himself be impressed by the yellow jerseys. – It is insanely impressive how fearless Glimt is. The scores are really great attacks and there are no coincidences. It’s combinations, good technique and good understanding, says Torp, who believes Glimt has an advantage before the second leg. – When the disappointment has subsided a little, after all, 2-2 is not a bad starting point, he continues. Albert Grønbæk set the tone away against Ajax, and ravaged the middle for the yellow jerseys before he had to leave with an injury in the 2nd half. Photo: AP Because it was initially a formidable task for the yellow jerseys in the away meeting with Ajax in the playoff for the play-offs in the Serie Liga. While Glimt arrived in the Netherlands straight from training camp in Spain, the hosts had found their form after a disastrous start to the season, with eight wins in the last twelve league games. But it was the approximately 900 visiting Glimt supporters who had to rub their eyes after 16 minutes. In the main role: Albert Grønbæk (22). – Propaganda football Midtbanejuvelen has recently signed a new contract with the Bodøværings, and immediately gave value for money. – Today he increased his value by 30-40-50 million with that match. Glimt has hit the mark there, says Viaplay expert Pål André Helland about Grønbæk. He began the whole attack with a heel kick to Patrick Berg, who again found Jens Petter Hauge on the edge. Hauge rushed towards the Ajax defence, waited just long enough, before he found Grønbæk on the opposite side of the box. The Glimt players celebrate after the 2-0 score from Albert Grønbæk. Photo: AP In a duel with the super talent Jorrel Hato (17), he shot the ball ice-cold into the near post, catching goalkeeper Diant Ramaj on the wrong foot. – It is a pattern attack. It’s propaganda football, says Viaplay expert Pål Andre Helland about the 1-0 score – which was also the result at half-time. – Denmark’s gift to Norwegian football But he was not done shocking the around 50,000 spectators at the Johan Cruijff Arena. After 63 minutes, the 22-year-old would get the net buzz again. This time he was a little luckier, after the ball bounced a little back and forth in the box. Grønbæk got the ball back into his legs inside the box, and finished ice-cold and calmly in the far corner. – A Danish gift to Norwegian football, exclaimed news commentator Olav Traaen. 2–0 to Bodø/Glimt and Ajax were left stunned. The minute before full time, however, Ajax should ignite hope before the second leg. Substitute Odin Bjørtuft fouled the hosts’ power forward Brian Brobbey, and the referee pointed to the penalty mark. In addition, he drew the red card, as a result of Bjørtuft depriving Brobbey of a clear scoring opportunity. The Ajax players were quick to pick up the ball after scoring 2-2 against Glimt seven minutes into overtime. Photo: Reuters – It’s unsportsmanlike. He doesn’t make an honest attempt to take the ball and tries to sabotage, says Torp Branco van den Boomen went to the penalty spot and put the ball past Kjetil Haug in the Glimt goal. This resulted in some nail-biting final minutes in Amsterdam. And seven minutes into overtime the equalizer came from the Dutch. Henderson on the return match: – It will be tough. Perhaps Ajax’s biggest profile is former Liverpool player Jordan Henderson. After only six months in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Europe and Ajax. He was pleased that the team was able to come back from 0–2. – It says a lot about the team that we manage to come back, he says to Viasat. He is excited about the return match, without it seeming that he had studied the visitors so carefully. Jordan Henderson may not be looking forward to the return match in Bodø next week, on artificial grass, four degrees and bitter wind. Photo: Reuters – It will be tough. They are a good team and well organised, continues Hendersen. – I’ve heard that it’s cold … and that it’s artificial grass? It will be a different test for us. He denied that Ajax was surprised by Glimt’s level. – No, we knew they were a good team, which they proved tonight. But we can play better, says Henderson.
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Bodø/Glimt close to a new football sensation – scored in overtime against Ajax – news Nordland
