For the third year in a row the Bodø/Glimt group stage in Europe. This season, it is the Serie Liga – the third highest level of the tournament – that the Bodøværnings will be bracing themselves for. In the first match away to Lugano, Kjetil Knutsen’s men had a tough time. But five minutes into overtime, at 0-0, Glimt and Albert Grønbæk could have run away with all the points. Brice Wembangomo played 45 degrees from the dead line and found Grønbæk. The Dane finished from 14-15 metres, but the shot went inside the chair and out. A gigantic opportunity for the visitors well into overtime, but it was only almost. The match’s most acrobatic performance was that of substitute Faris Pemi Moumbagna. After half an hour, Lugano’s centre-back Lars Lukas Mai played the ball past Haikin and on his way to the goal. Only a spectacular brass kick by substitute Moubagna – on his own line – prevented a late goal. – Is it the prettiest rescue you’ve had? – Yes, so far. I was lucky with that one. I put my foot forward and saved the team, says the striker to news after the match. He was ambivalent after the 0-0 draw against Lugano. – There are mixed feelings. We have many chances, they have many chances … We could have won, continues Moumbagna. Swiss pressure and Espejord injury The gates of heaven had opened over Zurich and it poured down on the players, making playing conditions difficult. The fact that the match was played in Zurich, and not in Lugano, is due to the fact that the hosts’ home arena is under renovation and does not meet the requirements of Uefa. It was therefore extremely crowded in the stands at the stadium, which can accommodate just under 25,000 spectators. And Glimt should really be satisfied with points in Switzerland. Because it was in front of the Glimt goal that a lot happened in the first half. After five minutes, Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was put to his first big test when he saved a well-placed shot from going in. And more was to come from the Swiss. 14 minutes into the match, Lugano captain Jonathan Sabbatini poked just wide of the goal. Then it was Glimt’s turn to show off. Ulrik Saltnes found Runar Espejord in front of goal with a cross, but the finish went straight to the keeper. And when Patrick Berg squeezed in from just over 24 metres, and forced Lugano goalkeeper Amir Saipi out at full stretch, perhaps the visiting Glimt supporters thought that the game was about to turn. Then Espejord went down for the count and signaled that he had to come out with an injury. Faris Pemi Moumbagna was benched before the match, but came on before half an hour had been played. Soon after, the Swiss started a rush towards the Glimt cage. A brass kick away from the back goal After 28 minutes, Haikin was out on an ever so small berry trip, and Lugano striker Zan Celar had a golden opportunity in an open goal. The striker was pressed hard as he was about to finish, and thus the ball went sky high over the goal. But Lugano had more to offer. A practiced corner variant fell in an arc over Haiking, but centre-back Brede Moe averted a long-range goal on the line with an important header. And as if that wasn’t enough: A minute later, Glimt was only a brass kick away from ending up under. In the second half, both the players and the pitch were drenched in water, and thus it became more even between the teams. In fact, it was so even that both teams struggled to create the big chances, before Glimt got their great chance in overtime. Status quo after the first matchday The draw also matches the match between the other two teams in the group: “Norwegian” Club Brugge and Besiktas. In Belgium, the teams played 1-1, leaving all teams in Group D with one point after the first of six match days in the group stage. And although it dripped well on the Glimt players in Zurich, it also dripped a little in the club coffers of the Bodø team – despite the draw. The lucrative prize money in Europe means that Glimt can warm up to NOK 1.9 million after the draw against Lugano. PS: Glimt’s next match is against Vålerenga at Aspmyra in a very even run into the Eliteserien.
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