1 – 3
“Sondre Brunstad Fet opens the scoring for Bodø/Glimt, converting from a corner routine after Tjaronn Chery's earlier shot had been saved. Despite NEC's territorial dominance, Glimt capitalise on their first real opportunity to take the lead.”
Pivotal“Andreas Klausen Helmersen converts from the penalty spot after Tobias Storm's yellow card foul, doubling Glimt's advantage moments before half-time and leaving NEC with an enormous mountain to climb from the interval.”
Pivotal“Haitam Aleesami strikes from a corner just five minutes into the second half to make it 3-0, delivering the knockout blow to any NEC hopes of recovery and effectively ending this tie as a meaningful contest.”
Pivotal“Clement Bischoff pulls one back for NEC late on to give the hosts the faintest glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg, though the deficit remains a towering obstacle for the Dutch side.”
NEC Nijmegen
Bodø / Glimt
Outstanding performance
NEC Nijmegen•MidfielderBodø/Glimt produced a masterclass in clinical away football at NEC Nijmegen, turning statistical irrelevance into a commanding 3-1 first-leg advantage. The Norwegian side were thoroughly outplayed in terms of possession and territory — NEC controlled 69% of the ball, generated 22 shots and 82 dangerous attacks to Glimt's 26 — yet it was the visitors who struck with devastating efficiency from their eight attempts. Sondre Brunstad Fet broke the deadlock from a corner on 25 minutes, and after Tobias Storm's yellow card handed Glimt a penalty just before half-time, Andreas Helmersen made it two from the spot. The telling blow came five minutes into the second half when Haitam Aleesami converted from another corner to make it 3-0, effectively ending the tie as a contest. NEC's double-digit substitutions from the hour mark smacked of a side searching for answers that never came, and while Clement Bischoff pulled one back in the 85th minute, it was scant consolation. Glimt's goalkeeper made five saves to NEC's one — the starkest illustration of where the danger truly lay. The Dutch hosts now face an extraordinarily difficult task in the second leg, needing to overturn a two-goal deficit on the road against a side that showed exactly how to make the most of limited opportunities.
How entertaining was this match?
Clement Bischoff takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Clement BischoffClement Bischoff scores with a left-footed shot.
Dusan Tadic attempts a header but misses the shot.
assist: Dusan Tadic
Goal! The score is now 1-3.
Gabriel Bras is on, and Tjaronn Chery is off.
Almugera Kabar replaces Deveron Fonville.
Shot - Kaj Sierhuis Head Shot Missed
Tjaronn Chery's left-footed shot is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Joshua Kitolano is on, and Ole Didrik Blomberg is off.
Kaj Sierhuis takes a shot with his right foot, but it's saved.
Isak Dybvik Maatta comes on for Fredrik Andre Bjorkan.
Tjaronn Chery takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Tjaronn Chery takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Andreas Klausen Helmersen's header is blocked.
Substitution: Adam Tahaui comes on for Emre Mor.
Jamiro Monteiro comes on for Bryan Linssen.
Kaj Sierhuis replaces Brayann Pereira.
Yellow card issued to Ola Brynhildsen.
Ola Brynhildsen replaces Jens Petter Hauge.
Corner awarded.
Bryan Linssen takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Clement Bischoff takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Haitam AleesamiShot on goal! Haitam Aleesami scores with a header.
assist: Patrick Berg
Goal! Haitam Aleesami scores, making it 0-3.
Corner awarded.
Patrick Berg takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
The first half ends with the score at 0-2.
Offside.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Andreas Klausen Helmersen scores, making it 0-2.
Tobias StormYellow CardYellow card issued to Tobias Storm.
Emre Mor takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Tjaronn Chery takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Sondre Brunstad Fet takes a left-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Noe Lebreton takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Darko Nejasmic takes a shot with his head, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Tjaronn Chery takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Shot - Noe Lebreton Head Shot Missed
Deveron Fonville takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Sondre FetSondre Brunstad Fet scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Jens Petter Hauge
Goal! Sondre Brunstad Fet scores, making it 0-1.
Corner awarded.
Tjaronn Chery takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Andreas Klausen Helmersen takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Jens Petter HaugeVAR decision results in the cancellation of the penalty for Jens Petter Hauge.
Patrick Berg takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Bryan Linssen takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off! The referee is Francois Letexier.
NEC Nijmegen and Bodø/Glimt meet for the very first time in competitive football, with a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage on the line. NEC arrive full of confidence after a 4-1 Eredivisie demolition of Willem II, while the Norwegian side showed their character by knocking out Union Saint-Gilloise in a dramatic extra-time thriller. Home advantage, high-scoring expectations, and a first-ever head-to-head make this a must-watch play-off first leg.
