Several hundred glimmer fans had turned up at Stadion Poznan, on Thursday, to see the yellows from Bodø try to progress to the round of 16. Unfortunately for them, Glimt was not up to the task, and they went out after star player Hugo Vetlesen almost inexplicably missed when it mattered most. Dominated parts of the match The match started with both teams testing each other back and forth. It was a nervous first quarter that featured some half chances for both teams, but to no avail. Later in the half, Albert Grønbech, among others, was played through by Hugo Vetlesen, but his attempt was blocked. Several of Glimt’s attacks were started by Patrick Berg, who was allowed to take long breaks forward in the field. Glimt fans in place at Stadion Miejski in Poznan. Photo: Piotr Hawalej / AP After 44 minutes played, Glimt kept conceding a goal in spectacular fashion. First, Brice Wembangomo kicks the ball away to an opponent, and Lech Poznan counters. Back colleague Sørensen initially appears to have good control of the ball coming forward, but he manages to fumble away the ball, which finds its way to another Lech player. The ball was placed in front of the goal, and Lech was just a quarter of a shoe size away from leading the game. Great chances to shine In the second half, new signing Adam Sørensen was very close to sending flashes into the lead. Mvuka swung a ball towards the back post, where Sørensen got his head on the ball and headed where the goalkeeper came running from, but a defender cleared the ball on the line. But it was nothing compared to what was to come. A breakdown meant that Pellegrino and Grønbech combined beautifully on the left wing. In the end, the Dane sent the ball to Vetlesen, who, completely unpressured, was just supposed to put the ball into the goal. Instead, the ball went sky high over the goal, and Vetlesen could hardly believe his eyes. It would immediately punish itself. After 62 minutes, goalkeeper Faye Lund hit a ball out of nowhere, which is picked up by a Poznan player. This led to a breakup. Poznan sent the ball in from the right, and the ball ended up in the hands of captain Mikael Ishak, who slotted it into the goal. Captain Mikael Ishak put the ball straight into the goal. Photo: Piotr Hawalej / AP After the goal, Lech Poznan went deep in the field and Glimt struggled more to get opportunities. In the end, it was Lech Poznan who could cheer for being further in the Serie Liga, while Glimt must go home disappointed. – Here to support my best friend Many from Norway hoped that the yellows from Bodø would come away with the victory against the reigning Polish league champions. Emil Osnes Gabrielsen may not be one of them. – What are you doing here today? – I am here to support my best friend Kristoffer Velde. We have been childhood friends all our lives, and have a close bond. Then it’s extra cool when Lech meets a Norwegian team. With 23 on his back, there is no doubt who Emil Osnes Gabrielsen hopes will do well on Thursday night. He and former Haugesund player Kristoffer Velde have been friends for a long time, and on Thursday he will hopefully see his friend play for Lech Poznan against Bodø/Glimt. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news Then he and a group from Haugesund had to travel to Poznan in Poland. He admits he was a little nervous when he entered The Dubliner pub in Poznan colours. – I know a little about it, I do it. I put on a vest so that people wouldn’t see it very well; but everyone has been very nice to me. Kristoffer Velde’s best friend, Emil Osnes Gabrielsen, had visited Glimt’s supporter pub in Poland for the occasion. He was wearing a Lech Poznan kit. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news Haven’t won in a year Bodø/Glimt has undoubtedly played good matches, and has qualified for the group stage in both the Serie A and the Europa League in recent seasons. But in the last year there have not been many victories to be happy about when Glimt has traveled away from Aspmyra. They have not won away since the hugely impressive 1-3 victory at Celtic Park in Glasgow in February 2022. Kjetil Knutsen, on the other hand, does not allow himself to be influenced by that statistic, which he expressed during Wednesday’s press conference in Poland. – We have many great matches in Europe both at home and away, and we are starting to gain some experience. So I think we should take that experience with us to the match, says Kjetil Knutsen. Photo: Kasper Holgersen / news – Sometimes I think we forget what kind of context we are in. Bodø/Glimt is a fairly small club from a small town far up north. If we can be the slightly annoying little brother against the big clubs in Europe, I think that is a good starting point for us. Knutsen says that people may be dazzled by results that Glimt has achieved, and have somewhat unrealistic expectations. – I think a lot of people forget where we come from. We are ambitious, but we are only concerned with developing and performing. Then we get paid based on that. We have many great games in Europe both at home and away, and we are starting to gain some experience. So I think we should take that experience with us to the match. Envisions a different match Childhood friend of Kristoffer Velde, Emil Osnes Gabrielsen, confirms to news that Kristoffer Velde will not start against Glimt on Thursday. He might come on, as he did after 72 minutes at Aspmyra. Until now, there has only been one goal in the league, for the player who was part of Lech Poznan’s league gold last year. The statistics in Europe are a notch better, with 6 goals in 13 games. Gabrielsen believes the game tonight could be tough. – He actually has very good stats in Europe, so things have gone a bit out of whack in the domestic series. In top football, small details matter, but I think he will come in and decide the match, he says with a smile. – What else do you think about the match? – I envision a different match than the one in Bodø. Because I think the Lech fans demand more here in Poznan. They got a great result at Aspmyra, but I think they will attack more in front of the home fans. – How are the fans? – They are completely crazy. There was a pretty good atmosphere at a league match I was here for earlier, but on European nights it becomes a completely different thing, he says. Hugo Vetlesen and Joel Mvuka during Glimt’s training, Wednesday in Poznan. Photo: Kai Jæger Kristoffersen / news
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Kristoffer Velde with special support during the big game – news Nordland
