Bodo's fairytale ends with five goals in the net

One of the most inspiring, fairy tale-like stories in the Champions League has come to an end on a rainy night in Lisbon. Inter Milan, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid were not good enough against the Norwegian team, but Sporting was. After a surprisingly heavy defeat in the first leg (3-0), the Portuguese team played arguably their best game of the season in all competition and crushed Bodo/Glimt 5-0 in overtime to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Bodo have won each of their last five matches in this competition and could equal the longest European Cup/UEFA Champions League winning streak by a team from outside Europe's top five leagues but tonight they were terrible. In fact, this was the night when Sporting played their best and Bodo their worst game of the season. The guests created maybe two good opportunities during the whole 120 minutes and couldn’t even push when they were 3-0 down, while Sporting players ran like mad, and were technically superior, creating chances from quality dribbles, run-ins, finishing and crosses. As much as it would be unfair for Inter to go through in the previous round, it would be unfair if Bodo went into the quarterfinals. They were completely outmatched and crushed.

After 12 minutes in the first half, probably even Bodo coach was surprised that his team was not 3-0 down already. The home team stormed from the first minute and had three excellent chances from Trinkao (two) and Suarez. Sporting didn’t give up and scored the first goal of the game after half and hour. A corner kick came from the right and Goncalo Inacio leaped higher than anyone else to beat the goalkeeper. All Bodo did in the first half was one counter attack which went totally wrong and a crossbar shot from Bjortuft in the 43rd minute.

Sporting continued the same in the second half and the Norwegians simply couldn’t stop them from attacking. The second goal came at the right time, with half an hour left to play. Catamo made an impressive pass to Luís Suarez, who layed it off perfectly for Goncalves to tap it in. Bodo was totally lost and went into a complete defensive mode, out of which a mistake happened. A clear handball in the Bodo area by Bjorkan was spotted by VAR and Sporting scored the much needed third goal. Nuno Santos hit the post after a powerful volley and Trinkao had another opportunity but Nikita Haikin saved his team again this night, and forced the game into an overtime. As soon as the extra time started, Sporting scored the much needed fourth goal. Maximiliano Araujo found himself in the penalty area out of nowhere and took a shot with his left foot. Haikin didn’t even saw the ball from all the defenders in front of him and Sporting were on the verge of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Bodo tried to create some sort of chance, since they were now on the brink of elimination but couldn’t create a single opportunity in the last 30 minutes. In the last minute of overtime, they allowed the fifth goal which brought pandemonium at the stands.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16

Return leg

Tuesday

Sporting - Bodo 5-0 (1-0) AET

/Ignacio 34, Goncalves 61, Suarez 78(p), Araujo 92, Nel 120+1/

23.00: (1.28) Arsenal (5.70) Leverkusen (12.0)

23.00: (2.15) Chelsea (4.25) PSG (3.05)

23.00: (1.46) Manchester City (5.50) Real Madrid (6.10)

Wednesday

20.45: (1.57) Barcelona (4.65) Newcastle (5.00)

23.00: (1.35) Bayern (5.30) Atalanta (8.00)

23.00: (1.30) Liverpool (6.10) Galatasaray (8.50)

23.00: (2.60) Tottenham (3.75) Atl.Madrid (2.65)

***odds are subject to change***